Anaerobic self-induced fermentation: a green bioprocessing strategy for enhancing extraction efficiency and bioactivities of flavonoids from Erigeron breviscapus - Original Paper

Sep 30, 2026

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Erigeron breviscapus contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant flavonoids, but therapeutic use is constrained by low yields of active components. Anaerobic self-induced fermentation emerged as the most effective of 12 fermentation strategies. Optimized processing increased scutellarein production 20.35-fold, reduced microbial α-diversity, and reshaped communities, shifting Proteobacteria to Firmicutes and Ascomycota to Basidiomycota. Metabolomics identified 223 differential metabolites, enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism, with Clostridium and Bacillus strongly linked to flavonoid accumulation. The resulting extract showed enhanced antibacterial and antioxidant activities.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages15

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Abstract

Introduction

Archives of Microbiology (2026) 208:103 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-025-04640-5](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-025-04640-5) ORIGINAL PAPER Anaerobic self-induced fermentation: a green bioprocessing strategy for enhancing extraction efficiency and bioactivities of flavonoids from Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand-Mazz Chunlian Song1 · Qianfei Wei1 · Xue Zhang1 · Qiong Pan1 · Ying Zhang1 · Shanqiang Wang2 · Dayong Yang2 · Xianghua Shu1 Received: 25 September 2025 / Revised: 25 November 2025 / Accepted: 26 November 2025 / Published online: 6 January 2026 © The Author(s) 2025 Abstract Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand-Mazz possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, yet its therapeutic application is limited by the low yield of active components. Fermentation technology offers a promising strategy for enhancing the enrichment of these bioactive compounds. In this study, anaerobic self-induced fermentation was identified as the most effective approach among 12 evaluated fermentation strategies. Under optimized conditions, this method markedly increased the production of scutellarein—achieving a 20.35-fold enhancement—while reducing microbial α-diversity and inducing notable community restructuring, characterized by a shift from Proteobacteria to Firmicutes in bacteria and from Ascomycota to Basidiomycota in fungi. Metabolomic analysis revealed 223 differentially expressed metabolites, primarily enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism pathways. Key bacterial genera, including Clostridium and Bacillus, showed strong correlations with increased flavonoid accumulation. Furthermore, the anaerobically selffermented extract exhibited significantly enhanced antibacterial and antioxidant activities. These findings demonstrate that anaerobic self-induced fermentation represents an effective and targeted bioprocessing strategy for amplifying the bioactivity and therapeutic potential of E. breviscapus. Keywords Spontaneous fermentation 1 · Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand-Mazz2 · Microorganisms3 · Flavonoids4 · Antibacterial5 · Antioxidant6 · LC-MS7 Introduction Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand.-Mazz. (E. breviscapus) is a perennial herb native to southwestern China, renowned for its high scutellarin content—a flavonoid constituting | Chunlian Song and Qianfei Wei have equal contribution and first authorship: These authors contributed equally to this work and share first authorship. | | --- | | Communicated by PANKAJ BHATT | 􀀍 Xianghua Shu [ynndsxh@ynau.edu.cn](ynndsxh@ynau.edu.cn) 1 College of Veterinary Medicine of Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, Yunnan Province, China 2 Weixin County Animal Husbandry Station, WeiXin County, Zhaotong 657900, Yunnan Province, China over 85% of its total flavonoid(Wu et al. 2021) . Studies have shown thatErigeron breviscapusflavonoids (EBF) exhibit remarkable effects in preventing cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, regulating angiogenesis, alleviating acute lung injury, and providing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits(Gao et al. 2017). However, Conventional extraction methods for scutellarin and scutellarein remain inefficient, yielding limited quantities of these active compounds(Fan et al. 2021). Although chemical synthesis can achieve largescale production, it is hindered by high raw material costs and stringent reaction conditions, making industrialization difficult. To overcome these limitations and meet the demands for both yield and safety, there is a pressing need to develop green and efficient bioprocessing technologies. Fermentation technology and enzymatic catalysis represent promising approaches to enhance the content and bioavailability of active ingredients inE. breviscapus. In recent years, fermentation technology has been widely applied in the secondary development of traditional Chinese medicinal materials. By leveraging microbial activity, it enhances the content and bioavailability of active

FAQs

What is the main goal of the study?

To develop an anaerobic self-induced fermentation strategy that enhances extraction efficiency and improves flavonoid bioactivities from Erigeron breviscapus.

How does anaerobic self-induced fermentation compare with other strategies?

Among 12 evaluated fermentation strategies, it was identified as the most effective approach for increasing scutellarein production and bioactivity.

What biological and metabolic changes were observed under optimized conditions?

The method increased scutellarein 20.35-fold, reduced microbial α-diversity, induced community restructuring, and generated 223 differentially expressed metabolites enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism.

Sep 30, 2026

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