# Dynamics of Physicochemical Properties, Flavor, and Bioactive Components in Lactobacillus-Fermented Pueraria lobata with Potential Hypolipidemic Mechanisms

## TL;DR

This study explores how Lactobacillus fermentation affects the chemical and flavor properties of Pueraria lobata and its potential to lower lipids through specific bioactive compounds and pathways.

## Contribution

The study introduces a multi-dimensional framework linking fermentation effects to hypolipidemic mechanisms via isoflavone conversion and network pharmacology.

## Key findings

- Fermentation increased total acid content by 2.41-fold while preserving most bioactive components.
- Fermentation enhanced low-concentration isoflavone aglycones like daidzein and genistein.
- Eight key components, including genistein, were predicted to bind to lipid metabolism-related targets via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions.

## Abstract

This study systematically analyzed the multidimensional effects of Lactobacillus fermentation on Pueraria lobata (PL) and investigated the potential mechanisms underlying its hypolipidemic activity. Results indicated that fermentation significantly increased the total acid content from 1.02 to 3.48 g·L−1, representing a 2.41-fold increase. Although slight reductions were observed in total flavonoids (8.67%) and total phenolics (6.72%), the majority of bioactive components were well preserved. Other antioxidant capacities were retained at >74.71% of baseline, except hydroxyl radical scavenging. Flavor profiling showed increased sourness and astringency, accompanied by reduced bitterness, with volatile compounds such as β-pinene and trans-2-hexenyl butyrate contributing to a distinct aromatic profile. Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that fermentation specifically enhanced the abundance of low-concentration isoflavone aglycones, including daidzein and genistein, suggesting a compositional shift that may improve hypolipidemic efficacy. Integrated network pharmacology and computational modeling predicted that eight key components, including genistein, could stably bind to ten core targets (e.g., AKT1 and MMP9) primarily through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, potentially regulating lipid metabolism via the PI3K-AKT, PPAR, and estrogen signaling pathways. This study reveals the role of Lactobacillus fermentation in promoting the conversion of isoflavone glycosides to aglycones in PL and constructs a multi-dimensional “components-targets-pathways-disease” network, providing both experimental evidence and a theoretical foundation for further research on the lipid-lowering mechanisms of fermented PL and the development of related functional products.