Cited by 431Probiotics and Fermented FoodsProtein Hydrolysis and Bioactive PeptidesMicrobial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology

Postbiotics and paraprobiotics: From concepts to applications

Cuevas-González, P.F., Liceaga, A.M., Aguilar-Toalá, J.E.·2020·Food Research International

Abstract

In recent years, new probiotic-related concepts such as postbiotics and paraprobiotics have been used to describe non-viable microorganisms or bacterial-free extracts that may provide benefits to the host by offering bioactivities additional to probiotics. However, several aspects related to these postbiotics and paraprobiotics bioactivities remain unexplored or are poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this work is to provide an overview of the general aspects and emerging trends of postbiotics and paraprobiotics, such as conceptualization of terms, production, characterization, bioactivities, health-promoting effects, bioengineering approaches, and applications. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that some postbiotics and paraprobiotics exhibit bioactivities such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-proliferative, antioxidant, and antimicrobial. These bioactivities could be involved in health-promoting effects observed in human and clinical trials, but despite the scientific evidence available, the mechanisms of action and the signaling pathways involved have not been fully elucidated. Nevertheless, paraprobiotics and postbiotics possess valuable potential for the development of biotechnological products with functional ingredients for the nutraceutical industry.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109502

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  • A safer and more practical approach than live probiotics would be to use inactivated microbial cells, cell fractions, or soluble products and metabolites of probiotics, known as postbiotics.

    “A safer and more practical approach would be to use inactivated microbial cells, cell fractions, or soluble products and metabolites of probiotics, known as postbiotics [12–14].”

    From Coaggregation of oral pathogens by postbiotic lactobacilli (2025) · cites this paper as [14]

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Authors
Cuevas-González, P. F., Liceaga, A. M., & Aguilar-Toalá, J. E.
Affiliations
  • Universidad Tecnologica de Tijuana (MX)
  • Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
Corresponding author
  • Liceaga, A.M.
  • Aguilar-Toalá, J.E.
Venue
Food Research International
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-10
Volume
136
Pages
109502
ISSN
0963-9969 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3038698648
Cited by
431
References
109
Citations by year
2026: 70 · 2025: 90 · 2024: 84 · 2023: 73 · 2022: 54 · 2021: 53 · 2020: 6
FWCI
3.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Food Research International (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Microbial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology
Keywords
postbiotics, paraprobiotics, bacterial extracts, bioactive compounds, anti-inflammatory activity, immunomodulation, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, health-promoting properties, nutraceuticals, functional food ingredients
MeSH terms
Anti-Bacterial Agents, Bacteria, Humans, Dietary Supplements, Probiotics

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