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S-equol producing bacteria: isolation and identification from Albino Wistar rat gut microbiota
Megha Gangwar1,2, Sanaa Ismael Abduljabbar2, Jalaluddin Khan2
1Department of Food Technology, School of Interdisciplinary Sciences & Technology, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
|March 2, 2026
Summary
Researchers isolated novel S-equol-producing gut bacteria from rats, demonstrating potential for functional foods. Fermented soy diets increased S-equol, highlighting gut microbiota
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gut Microbiome Research
- Metabolomics
Background:
- Gut microbiota metabolism of soy isoflavones, like daidzein, is crucial for producing bioactive S-equol.
- S-equol offers health benefits including cardiovascular disease prevention and antioxidant properties.
- Limited availability of S-equol-producing bacteria restricts its production and application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize S-equol-producing microbes from albino Wistar rats.
- To investigate the impact of dietary interventions on S-equol production.
- To explore the potential of identified bacterial strains for functional food and therapeutic applications.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and cultivation of anaerobic bacteria from rat intestine and feces.
- High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for S-equol quantification.
- Phylogenetic analysis for bacterial identification.
Main Results:
- Four anaerobic S-equol-producing bacterial strains (MG1-MG4) were isolated.
- Fermented soy feed significantly increased fecal S-equol excretion compared to control.
- HPLC and HPTLC confirmed S-equol concentrations ranging from 5.90 to 7.56 µg/g.
- Phylogenetic analysis identified strains as C. freundii (MG1), E. fergusonii (MG2), and E. faecalis (MG3, MG4).
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota plays a key role in daidzein metabolism to S-equol.
- Bacterial strains MG1, MG3, and MG4 show promise for commercial S-equol production.
- E. fergusonii (MG2) is unsuitable for therapeutic use due to pathogenicity.
- Identified strains can be valuable resources for health promotion and disease prevention.
