Screening and evaluation of purines-degrading lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional fermented foods in Yunnan Province and their uric acid-lowering effects in vivo

Introduction Traditional fermented foods have recently been recognized for their potential benefits in managing hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout. Methods This study evaluated the purine degradation ability of seventy-eight lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from traditional fermented foods in Yunnan Province, China, by HPLC. The possible mechanisms of in vitro purine degradation were explored through whole-genome sequencing, comparative genomics, and qRT-PCR, and the effect of the LAB on HUA in SD rats was verified. Results and Discussion In vitro results demonstrated that Limosilactobacillus fermentum MX-7 and GL-1-3L exhibited high degradation ratios for guanine, while Pediococcus acidilactici GJ09-3-7L showed good potential in degrading xanthine. All three strains were also effective in degrading inosine and guanosine. And the genomes of all three strains contained a high number of enzymes related to purine metabolism, transporter and permease. In vivo results suggested that the MX-7 strain not only lowering serum uric acid (UA) and urea nitrogen levels in HUA SD rats but also providing a protective effect on renal function. These findings indicate that the MX-7 strain could serve as a promising adjunctive therapy for treating HUA.