Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermented barley extracts ameliorate high‐fat‐diet‐induced muscle dysfunction via mitophagy

BACKGROUND A reduced level of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) by skeletal muscle leads to the accumulation of intermuscular fat (IMF), which is linked to impaired exercise capacity. Previously, we have reported that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermented barley extract (LFBE) has effective anti‐obesity properties. In this study, the effects of LFBE on muscle were investigated. RESULTS LFBE improved running endurance and muscle strength, which was caused by the elevation of FAO in muscle. In addition, LFBE renovated muscle regeneration through the upregulation of paired box 7 and myogenic differentiation 1 expression avoiding the injury of skeletal muscle fibers. Furthermore, total polyphenol isolated from LFBE (FTP) reinforced mobility and showed a significant protective effect on maintaining muscle fiber morphogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Transmission electron microscope observation suggested FTP induced mitophagy in C. elegans body wall muscle, which was strongly connected with enhanced FAO in mitochondria. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlighted the beneficial bioactivities of FTP and its potential application for stimulating mitophagy and muscle function in obese individuals. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.