Antioxidative and Metabolic Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum, Inulin, and Their Synbiotic on the Hypothalamus and Serum of Healthy Rats.

Nowadays, much attention has been paid to the link between gut microbiota and brain. The beneficial metabolic effects of probiotics and prebiotics in several diseases such as diabetes and obesity have been reported. However, studies bridging the association of gut microbiome with brain function in healthy states are rare. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the administration of Lactobacillus plantarum (L plantarum) and inulin may affect serum and hypothalamic metabolic parameters as well as oxidative markers in healthy male rats. Daily L plantarum (107 CFU/mL) and inulin (5% of daily food weight) or their combination (synbiotic) was given to healthy rats. Then, serum and hypothalamic levels of leptin, insulin, and oxidative markers were measured. Administration of synbiotic for 8 weeks led to significant changes in serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio, triglyceride, and total cholesterol. The intake of synbiotic also resulted in a significantly reduced hypothalamic level of malondialdehyde and increased hypothalamic superoxide dismutase (SOD). Also, L plantarum could significantly increase hypothalamic SOD level. Furthermore, synbiotic administration insignificantly increased the hypothalamic and serum levels of insulin and leptin. These findings suggest that the synbiotic could significantly improve oxidative markers and lipid profile in healthy rats. Therefore, simultaneous intake of L plantarum and inulin appears to be more effective in the amelioration of metabolic and oxidative parameters.

The potential therapeutic effects of the gut microbiome manipulation by synbiotic containing-Lactobacillus plantarum on neuropsychological performance of diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: The manipulation of gut microbiota as a target has been suggested to reduce the risks for a number of diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Conversely, T2DM is associated with complications such as gut and brain disorders. Furthermore, the impact of probiotics and prebiotics to improve T2DM complications are reported. Thus, the present study seeks to investigate the therapeutic and neuropsychological effects of L. plantarum and inulin in diabetic rats. METHODS: Throughout the investigation, L. plantarum, inulin or their combination (synbiotic) was administered to diabetic rats. in the end, fecal samples were collected to evaluate the gut microbial composition. Then behavioral tests were conducted. Subsequently, the obtainment of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampal samples. RESULTS: Our data demonstrated that administration of L. plantarum and inulin could improve gut dysbiosis and oxidative stress status. In addition, it could ameliorate serotonin and BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway. Notably, a strong correlation between the gut microbiota changes and cognition responses was observed. Interestingly, synbiotics intake exploited a rather powerful effect on oxidative stress markers. CONCLUSION: The findings confirm that there is a beneficial therapeutic potential of supplements, especially symbiotic. Moreover, neuropsychological improvement associated with balanced gut microbiome.

Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of probiotics in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and autoimmune neurological disorder which leads to demyelination. Although the etiology of MS is yet to be known, it appears that regulating the immune system and suppressing inflammatory pathways may possibly have a favorable effect on the healing of this disease. Evidence suggests that probiotics consumption via gut microbiome alteration devises beneficial effects in improving immune and inflammatory responses in MS. All articles were systematically searched (in the main databases) for this paper. Two investigators independently scrutinized full texts of the potentially eligible articles. The quality of the study was evaluated using standardized tools. The methodological quality of seven studies included in this review ranged from fair to good. The findings illustrated that there were statistically significant improvements in the static and dynamic balance in patients and animals with MS. In the paper in hand, the effects of probiotics administration on immune and inflammatory markers in MS disease are evaluated. In addition, the limitations and knowledge gaps were reported while proposing a possible mechanism of probiotics therapy in modulating immune and inflammatory responses. This systematic review indicated that the probiotics could improve immune and inflammatory parameters, the cytokines and cells in MS disease. Probiotics may have efficient effects in management and treatment of MS. More studies are required to clarify the effect of supplementation with probiotics and their mechanisms in MS disease.

Correction to: The novel insight into anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic effects of psychobiotics in diabetic rats: possible link between gut microbiota and brain regions.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in the order of the author list.

The novel insight into anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic effects of psychobiotics in diabetic rats: possible link between gut microbiota and brain regions.

PURPOSE: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was associated with gut microbial impairment (dysbiosis) and neurological and behavioral disorders. The role of the gut-brain axis in the management of many diseases including T2DM has been the focus of much research activity in the recent years. However, a wide knowledge gap exists about the gut microbial effects on the function of glia cells. Hence, the present study was aimed to examine the effects of psychobatics on dysbiosis and glia cells function in enteric and central nervous system with an inflammatory insight in T2DM. METHODS: Thirty rats were treated by Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum, inulin, or their combination (synbiotic) for 8 weeks after inducing T2DM. Fecal sample was collected to evaluate gut microbial composition. Then, the rats were sacrificed, and the colon, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were studied. RESULTS: T2DM resulted in dysbiosis and increased levels of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and inflammatory markers (IL-17, IL-6, and TLR-2) in the colon and brain. However, concurrent supplementation of L. plantarum and inulin could improve the gut microbial composition as well as reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines. While the administration of L. plantarum led to a significant decrease in TLR-2 as well as GDNF and GFAP only in the amygdala, the synbiotic intake could make such changes in the colon, amygdala, and PFC. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated an innovative approach to the beneficial effects of psychobiotics in neuroinflammation and behavioral performance through gut microbiota changes, focusing on possible role of glial cells in gut-brain axis.

Beneficial psychological effects of novel psychobiotics in diabetic rats: the interaction among the gut, blood and amygdala.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can lead to major complications such as psychiatric disorders which include depressive and anxiety-like behaviors. The association of the gut-brain axis in the development of such disorders, especially in T2DM, has been elucidated; however, gut dysbiosis is also reported in patients with T2DM. Hence, the regulation of the gut-brain axis, in particular, the gut-amygdala, as a vital region for the regulation of behavior is essential. Thirty-five male Wistar rats were divided into six groups. To induce T2DM, treatment groups received high-fat diet and 35 mg/kg streptozotocin. Then, supplements of Lactobacillus plantarum, inulin or their combination were administered to each group for 8 weeks. Finally, the rats were sacrificed for measurement of blood and tissue parameters after behavioral testing. The findings demonstrated the favorable effects of the psychobiotics (L. plantarum, inulin or their combination) on oxidative markers of the blood and amygdala (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity), as well as on concentrations of amygdala serotonin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, in the diabetic rats. In addition, beneficial effects were observed on the elevated plus maze and forced swimming tests with no change in locomotor activity of the rats. There was a strong correlation between the blood and amygdala oxidative markers, insulin and fasting blood sugar with depressive and anxiety-like behaviors. Our results identified L. plantarum ATCC 8014 and inulin or their combination as novel psychobiotics that could improve the systemic and nervous antioxidant status and improve amygdala performance and beneficial psychotropic effects.