Postbiotics: A developing notion to application

Abstract

Postbiotics, encompassing non-viable whole cells, cell fragments, and microbial metabolites produced by probiotic microorganisms, are gaining increasing attention due to their beneficial effects on the host. These compounds include a diverse range of substances such as short-chain fatty acids, teichoic acids, lipoteichoic acids, bacterial lysates, vitamins, plasmalogens, enzymes, and peptides. Their growing interest stems from their capacity to modulate the gut microbiome along with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and immunity boosting properties. Emerging technologies such as electric field, ultrasonication, high pressure, ionizing radiation, pulsed light, magnetic field heating and plasma technology can be explored for the production of postbiotics.