Pharmacological Effects of Lactobacillus casei ATCC 7469 Fermented Soybean and Green Microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris, on Diabetic Rats

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

microbiolres-2380253

Dear Authors,

This study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of Lactobacillus casei ATCC 7469 fermented soy flour extract and Chlorella vulgaris extract on Sprague Dawley rats in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induced by low-dose streptozotocin administration (STZ) compared to pioglitazone as a reference drug. The findings obtained are interesting. The study can be accepted after addressing the comments and recommendations below in order to improve the quality of current work and make it suitable for the possible publishing.

The title:

-          Please add green microalga before Chlorella vulgar.

Abstract:

-          L 21, L 23: modify the abbreviations, to be HDL, LDL

-          L 25: remove the space before hypolipidemic.

Introduction:

-          L 38: add and before headache,

-          L 42: Soybean contains many active constituents? Please justify and write in details the bioactive minor components in soy such as flavonoids, isoflavones, etc. and their biological effects.

-          L 43: “and dietary fiber [6]. Complex carbohydrates and dietary fibre”?? uniform the language style, American or British?? Fiber or fibre? Apply this issue all throughout the manuscript.

-          L 47: delete comma after . in the references, it should be Kim et al. [10] apply for all similar cases.

-          L 53: correct the strain “Lactobacillus fermentum HFY02.

L 59: diet..??

Materials and methods:

-          Overall, this section requires more details and justification and the model, manufacturers and country should be added to the media (like MRS) etc., reagents, as well the instruments (like Lyophilizer) etc. in order to reproduce this research.

-          Add the details of Chlorella vulgaris identification, the source, country etc…..

-          L 79: “centrifugation (12,000 rpm)? Convert rpm to x g and write the centrifuge model and its details. Also, convert rpm in line 84, line 89…etc.

-          L 160: specify the p value in statistical analyses.

Results and discussion:

-          Table 1: correct the unit” (mg/dl) to (mg/dL) apply for all similar cases, such as ml should be mL.

-          For Fig. 1 it is recommended to mark each part as Fig. 1 a, Fig. 1. B… etc., and specify each one in the caption. Also, each abbreviated word both in the axis or in the body figure must be defined well in the caption.

-          Fig. 2: define CAT and SOD, correct U/mL. Also add suitable definition for x axis, apply for all figures.

Conclusion:

A narration Chlorella vulgaris and cytotoxicity, the safe dose are required in the future perspectives.

References:

-          Double check the references format according to journal guide.

-          All strains and scientific names must be italic e.g., vulgaris (line 435). Line 438” Order Chroococcales……….

Specific comments:

-          The language should be improved since the current level is bad.

-          Add the ethical approval number and its details in these suitable sections:

Institutional Review Board Statement:    Informed Consent Statement.

Comments for author File: Comments.docx

The language should be improved.

Author Response

Dear Authors,

This study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of Lactobacillus casei ATCC 7469 fermented soy flour extract and Chlorella vulgaris extract on Sprague Dawley rats in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induced by low-dose streptozotocin administration (STZ) compared to pioglitazone as a reference drug. The findings obtained are interesting. The study can be accepted after addressing the comments and recommendations below in order to improve the quality of current work and make it suitable for the possible publishing.

Dear   Reviewer

So many thanks for your comments and revisions that were of great value and importance for improving the overall quality of the manuscript.

We have strictly followed and applied all the valuable corrections and comments.

Our responses to Reviewer’s comments are as follow:

The title:

• Please add green microalga before Chlorella vulgar.
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• added

Abstract:

• L 21, L 23: modify the abbreviations, to be HDL, LDL
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• changed
• L 25: remove the space before hypolipidemic.
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• removed

Introduction:

• L 38: add and before headache
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• added
• L 42: Soybean contains many active constituents? Please justify and write in details the bioactive minor components in soy such as flavonoids, isoflavones, etc. and their biological effects.
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• More details were added
• L 43: “and dietary fiber [6]. Complex carbohydrates and dietary fibre”?? uniform the language style, American or British?? Fiber or fibre? Apply this issue all throughout the manuscript.
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• Unified to fiber
• L 47: delete comma after . in the references, it should be Kim et al. [10] apply for all similar cases.
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• deleted
• L 53: correct the strain “Lactobacillus fermentum
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• corrected

Materials and methods:

• Overall, this section requires more details and justification and the model, manufacturers and country should be added to the media (like MRS) etc., reagents, as well the instruments (like Lyophilizer) etc. in order to reproduce this research.
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• added
• Add the details of Chlorella vulgaris identification, the source, country etc…..
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• added
• L 79: “centrifugation (12,000 rpm)? Convert rpm to x g and write the centrifuge model and its details. Also, convert rpm in line 84, line 89…etc.
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• converted
• L 160: specify the p value in statistical analyses.
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• P < 0.05 was considered significant

Results and discussion:

• Table 1: correct the unit” (mg/dl) to (mg/dL) apply for all similar cases, such as ml should be mL.
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• corrected
• For Fig. 1 it is recommended to mark each part as Fig. 1 a, Fig. 1. B… etc., and specify each one in the caption. Also, each abbreviated word both in the axis or in the body figure must be defined well in the caption.
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• done
• 2: define CAT and SOD, correct U/mL. Also add suitable definition for x axis, apply for all figures.
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• done

Conclusion:

A narration Chlorella vulgaris and cytotoxicity, the safe dose is required in the future -           Many thanks for your valuable comments.

-     added.

References:

• Double check the references format according to journal guide.
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• checked
• All strains and scientific names must be italic e.g., vulgaris (line 435). Line 438” Order Chroococcales……
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• corrected

Specific comments:

• The language should be improved since the current level is bad.
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• Improved using https://secure.aje.com/en/researcher/digital-editing.
• Add the ethical approval number and its details in these suitable sections:
• Many thanks for your valuable comments
• added
•  

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Thank you for the opportunity to review your manuscript.

The overall aspect is that you need to sistematically re-evaluate the manuscript for flows of writing and grammar such as typos such as double spaces, lack of spaces between words/punctuation signs, lack of comas or redundant dots or use of acronyms. Otherwise, the idea is interesting and should not be abandoned.

Abstract

L13 – used first time the abbreviation for T2DM, please stick to it further (Eg - L17)

L17 – please eliminate the double-space.

L20 - please eliminate the first “and”, it seems redundant

Introduction

L36 – please re-evaluate the list of drugs that are available in the treatment of T2DM. Please add a reference regarding the use of glucagon in the treatment of T2DM.

L37-40- please reconsider and be more specific regarding with drug or class of drugs is generating which side-effect.

L44 – please reconsider the phrase “are beneficial to diabetics”. A possibility would be “patients with T2DM”.

L 45 – If you used the acronym of diabetes mellitus (L31), please stick to it through the entire manuscript.

L51 – please be more specific of the acronym SCFa – it is not linked to its original term.

Overall, this section lacks information about what is known and what is reported to offer Lactobacillus casei ATCC 7469 fermented soybean and Chlorella vulgaris, the benefits in treating T2DM.

Material and Methods

L104 – please explain why you used such a small group of controls.

Results and Discussions

First of all, it would be better to separate the 2 sections, according to the Journal instructions for authors. Moreover, I suggest to redo the figures, in order to be clearer and easy to read. The legend of the figures should be easily understandable – in Figure 2 there is not clear for which group are the representations. Please, redo it!

Please address a native speaker to help you to to improve your manuscript.

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Thank you for the opportunity to review your manuscript.

The overall aspect is that you need to sistematically re-evaluate the manuscript for flows of writing and grammar such as typos such as double spaces, lack of spaces between words/punctuation signs, lack of comas or redundant dots or use of acronyms. Otherwise, the idea is interesting and should not be abandoned.

Dear   Reviewer

So many thanks for your comments and revisions that were of great value and importance for improving the overall quality of the manuscript.

We have strictly followed and applied all the valuable corrections and comments.

Our responses to Reviewer’s comments are as follow:

Abstract

L13 – used first time the abbreviation for T2DM, please stick to it further (Eg - L17)

Thanks for your valuable comments.

done

L17 – please eliminate the double-space.

Thanks for your valuable comments.

done

L20 - please eliminate the first “and”, it seems redundant.

Thanks for your valuable comments.

done

Introduction

L36 – please re-evaluate the list of drugs that are available in the treatment of T2DM. Please add a reference regarding the use of glucagon in the treatment of T2DM.

Thanks for your valuable comments.

done

L37-40- please reconsider and be more specific regarding with drug or class of drugs is generating which side-effect.

Thanks for your valuable comments.

done

L44 – please reconsider the phrase “are beneficial to diabetics”. A possibility would be “patients with T2DM”.

Thanks for your valuable comments.

Corrected

L 45 – If you used the acronym of diabetes mellitus (L31), please stick to it through the entire manuscript.

Thanks for your valuable comments.

done

L51 – please be more specific of the acronym SCFa – it is not linked to its original term.

Thanks for your valuable comments.

The acronym SCFa was deleted.

Overall, this section lacks information about what is known and what is reported to offer Lactobacillus casei ATCC 7469 fermented soybean and Chlorella vulgaris, the benefits in treating T2DM.

Thanks for your valuable comments.

More information about hypoglycemic effect of Lactobacillus casei ATCC 7469 fermented soybean and Chlorella vulgaris was added to introduction.

Material and Methods

L104 – please explain why you used such a small group of controls.

Thanks for your valuable comments.

We used (n=10) in case of control rats.

Most of reported literature used (n=10) or less for control group.

Here you are some examples.

1)Zhu Zeng, Qipeng Yuan, Rui Yu, Jinlan Zhang, Huiqin Ma, and Shangwu Chen. Ameliorative Effects of Probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei NL41 on Insulin Sensitivity, Oxidative Stress, and Beta-Cell Function in a Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Rat Model. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2019, 1900457

2) Pattaneeya Prangthipa, Reuthaithip Surasianga, Rin Charoensiria, Vijittra Leardkamolkarnb, Surat Komindrc, Uruwan Yamborisuta, Apichart Vanavichitd, Ratchanee Kongkachuichaia,Amelioration of hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress and inflammation in steptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed a high fat diet by riceberry supplement. Journal of functional food (203), 195-203

3) Shahid Ahmed Junejo, Huihui Geng, Songnan Li, Ajeet Kumar Kaka, Alam Rashid, Yibin Zhou. Superfine wheat bran improves the hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic properties in a high-fat rat model Food Sci Biotechnol (2020) 29(4):559–567

 

 

 

 

Results and Discussions

First of all, it would be better to separate the 2 sections, according to the Journal instructions for authors. Moreover, I suggest to redo the figures, in order to be clearer and easy to read. The legend of the figures should be easily understandable – in Figure 2 there is not clear for which group are the representations. Please, redo it!

Thanks for your valuable recommendations.

Although, separation of results and discussion is a good method of writing the manuscript, I preferred to write one section of results and discussion to make it easy to understand results of each part (hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and histology).

Regarding the figures, I did them again with clear label of x axis to be understood in the revised manuscript.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Thank you for the opportunity to revise the revised version. You did a great job, but i think there are some minor improvements that may be done to the introduction section, in order to be more broader in provided information and I still find that the discussion and result section should be separated. 

Minor improvements are required.