Abstract
Fermented vegetables are increasingly being recognized as an important dietary component, particularly of plant-based diets, to achieve a sustainable healthy gut because of their microbial diversity and antioxidant properties. However, the functional relevance of fermented vegetables varies based on the raw ingredients used and nutrient supplementation. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the microbial diversity and antioxidant activity of three formulas of fermented vegetables (standard, supplemented with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, and supplemented with polyphenol vitexin) at days 0 and 15. The bacterial community profiles were determined through 16S rRNA sequencing analysis, and antioxidant activity was analyzed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and by measuring the oxygen radical absorbance capacity, the ferric reducing ability of plasma, and the total phenolic content. The results confirm microbial diversity in the taxonomic composition of the different formulas of fermented vegetables, with different bacteria predominating, particularly lactic acid bacteria including the genera Weissella, Pedicocccus, Leuconostoc, and Lactobacillus. Spearman's correlation analysis showed significant differences in the specific bacteria present in the different formulas of fermented vegetables that conferred antioxidant capacity. Our findings show that supplementation with L. rhamnosus GG and polyphenol vitexin may effectively enhance the functional relevance of foods by promoting cellular protection against oxidative stress.