Gut microbiota modulation by both Lactobacillus fermentum MSK 408 and ketogenic diet in a murine model of pentylenetetrazole-induced acute seizure.

PURPOSE: Seizures are a threat to the host brain and body and can even cause death in epileptic children. Ketogenic diet (KD) is suggested for children suffering from epileptic seizures and has been investigated for its anti-seizure effect. However, the relationships between KD and gut microbiota (GM) is not yet been deeply understood. Herein, we investigated the anti-seizure effect by administering KD and a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in murine model of chemically induced seizures. We hypothesized that a single Lactobacillus fermentum MSK 408 (MSK 408) strain with or without KD may exert a neuroprotection by modulating host gut microbiota. METHOD: We performed animal study using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) to induce seizure. Thirty 3-week-old male Institute of Cancer research (ICR) mice were divided in six groups, Normal diet (ND), ND + PTZ, ND + PTZ + LAB, KD, KD + PTZ, and KD + PTZ. Based on our previous study, 4:1 KD and selected MSK 408 strain was orally gavaged (4 × 109 CFU/mL) with both diets for 4 weeks. PTZ (40 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 30 min before euthanization. RESULTS: Compared to ND, KD significantly reduced the seizure frequency. Administration of MSK 408 with both ND and KD for 4 weeks restored serum lipid profile and tight junction protein mRNA expression of the gut and brain. Additionally, PCoA revealed that MSK 408 independently affected fecal short chain fatty acid (SCFA) content via gut microbiota (GM) modulation. PICRUSt suggested that the modulation of microbiota by KD and MSK 408 led to increased GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) metabolism. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings suggest that MSK 408 strain can be consumed with KD as supplement without interfering the anti-seizure action of KD, and may improve the serum lipid profile, and brain barrier function via gut microbiota and SCFA modulation.

Laxative effect of probiotic chocolate on loperamide-induced constipation in rats.

The fecal morphology, defecation frequency, bowel function, intestinal motility, and fecal bacterial composition were evaluated to investigate the laxative effect of probiotic chocolate containing Streptococcus thermophilus MG510 and Lactobacillus plantarum LRCC5193 (LYC) on loperamide-induced constipated rats. Daily oral administration of LYC in constipated rats for two weeks was shown to significantly increase (n = 14) the defecation frequency, fecal moisture content, and relative abundance of fecal Lactobacillus and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Moreover, histological analysis of the distal colon of constipated rats revealed that LYC treatment can also increase the thickness of the colonic mucosa and muscle layers, and crypt of Lieberkühn. LYC also significantly increased (n = 5) the intestinal motility and modulated (n = 9) mRNA expression levels of colonic ZO-1 and Cldn-1 in the constipated rats. Altogether, these results demonstrate that probiotic chocolate has potential as a dietary adjunct for the treatment of constipation.

Prophylactic use of probiotic chocolate modulates intestinal physiological functions in constipated rats.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the in vivo prophylactic effect of probiotic chocolate on constipation. Rats were administered chocolate containing 2.5 × 1010 CFU g-1 of probiotics daily for 4 weeks and treated with loperamide (5 mg kg-1 ) daily at the fourth week of treatment. RESULTS: Probiotic chocolate treatment significantly (P < 0.05) increased the intestinal motility, colon length, fecal moisture content and number of excreted fecal pellets in constipated rats. Moreover, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction data and histological images also revealed that both probiotic chocolate LYC and BB12 treatments were capable of upregulating the mRNA expression levels of colonic ZO-1, occludin and AQP8, leading to the maintenance of the defensive barrier function in the constipated rats compared with the negative controls. Interestingly, these treatments also modulated gut bacterial populations by increasing the abundance levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, as well as reducing the abundance level of Enterobacteriaceae. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that probiotic chocolate LYC and BB12 could potentially be used as alternative agents for prophylactic constipation. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Probiotic Properties of Lactobacillus Plantarum LRCC5193, a Plant-Origin Lactic Acid Bacterium Isolated from Kimchi and Its Use in Chocolates.

This study involves an investigation of the probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Kimchi, and their potential applications in chocolate. Lactobacillus plantarum-LRCC5193 (LP-LRCC5193) demonstrated a significantly higher degree of heat, acid, and bile acid tolerance compared to other Kimchi isolates. The intestinal adhesion assay also revealed that 84.2 log percentage of LP-LRCC5193 adhered to the Caco-2 cells after 2 h of incubation. Furthermore, the lyophilized LP-LRCC5193 maintained 92.9 log percentage and 97.2 log percentage survival rate within artificial stomach juice (pH 2.5, pepsin 0.04%) and artificial intestinal juice (oxgall 0.5%, trypsin 0.04%, and pancreatin 0.04%), respectively. Meanwhile, we also found that lyophilized LP-LRCC5193 incorporated in chocolate exhibited significantly higher survivability than lyophilized LP-LRCC5193 in both artificial gastric and intestinal juice under 1 to 3 hr incubation, where the survivability was within the range of 96.3 to 98.5 log percentage, and 98.8 to 98.9 log percentage, respectively. A 6-month storage test further revealed that LP-LRCC5193 demonstrated higher stability than the lyophilized LP-LRCC5103 in 3 different temperature ranges, where the final survival rates were 97.2 log percentage (20 °C), 89.2 log percentage (33 °C), and 94.4 log percentage (15 to 30 °C/wk). Altogether, our data suggest that chocolate can be used as a tasty delivery vehicle for delivering putative probiotic strain, LP-LRCC5193 to the gastrointestinal tract. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Lactobacillus plantarum LRCC5193 (LP-LRCC5193) isolated from Kimchi demonstrated high stability under gastrointestinal environmental stresses and good adhesion to the intestinal epithelial cells in vitro. In addition, LP-LRCC5193 containing chocolates remained highly stable after storage at room temperature for 6 months. Chocolate containing LP-LRCC5193 can thus be considered a promising probiotic delivery system.

Probiotics Ameliorate Stool Consistency in Patients with Chronic Constipation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The efficacy of probiotics for improving clinical symptoms, altering the fecal microbiota, and regulating serum immune cytokine levels was investigated in patients with irritable bowel syndrome-constipation (IBS-C) or functional constipation (FC). METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at Kyung Hee University Hospital between October 2016 and February 2017. Consecutive 18-75-year-old patients with diagnosis of IBS-C or FC (based on Rome IV criteria) consumed probiotics (3.0 × 108 CFU/g Streptococcus thermophilus MG510 and 1.0 × 108 CFU/g Lactobacillus plantarum LRCC5193) or a placebo daily for 4 weeks (weeks 1-4) and were followed up for a 4-week washout period without intervention (weeks 5-8). The primary outcomes of the study were Bristol Stool Form Scale and Complete Spontaneous Bowel Movements (CSBM). Efficacy was assessed by per protocol. RESULTS: Stool consistency measured by the Bristol Stool Form Scale was significantly better in the probiotic group (n = 88) than in the placebo group (n = 83) at 4 and 8 weeks (3.7 ± 1.1 vs. 3.1 ± 1.1 at 8 weeks, P = 0.002). No significant difference was found in CSBM. The quality of life was significantly better in the probiotic group than in the placebo group at 4 weeks (P = 0.044) and 8 weeks (P = 0.049). The relative abundance of L. plantarum among the fecal microbiomes was significantly greater in the probiotic group than in the placebo group at 4 weeks (P = 0.029). However, the levels of other microbiomes and of serum cytokines (IL-10/IL-12 ratio and TNF-α) did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Probiotics significantly ameliorated stool consistency in patients with chronic constipation. In addition, the beneficial effect of L. plantarum on stool consistency remained after the probiotic supplementation was discontinued. The mechanism whereby probiotics benefit patients with chronic constipation should be clarified in further studies.

Protective Effect of Lactobacillus fermentum LA12 in an Alcohol-Induced Rat Model of Alcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a complex multifaceted disease that involves oxidative stress and inflammation as the key mediators. Despite decades of intensive research, there are no FDA-approved therapies, and/or no effective cure is yet available. Probiotics have received increasing attention in the past few years due to their well-documented gastrointestinal health-promoting effects. Interestingly, emerging studies have suggested that certain probiotics may offer benefits beyond the gut. Lactobacillus fermentum LA12 has been previously demonstrated to play a role in inflammatory-related disease. However, the possible protective effect of L. fermentum LA12 on ALD still remain to be explored. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effect of L. fermentum LA12 on alcohol-induced gut barrier dysfunction and liver damage in a rat model of alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH). Daily oral administration of L. fermentum LA12 in rat model of ASH for four weeks was shown to significantly reduced intestinal nitric oxide production and hyperpermeability. Moreover, small intestinal histological- and qRT-PCR analysis further revealed that L. fermentum LA12 treatment was capable of up-regulating the mRNA expression levels of tight junction proteins, thereby stimulating the restitution of barrier structure and function. Serum and hepatic analyses also revealed that the restoration of epithelial barrier function may prevent the leakage of endotoxin into the blood, subsequently improve liver function and hepatic steatosis in the L. fermentum LA12-treated rats. Altogether, results in this study suggest that L. fermentum LA12 may be used as a dietary adjunct for the prevention and treatment of ASH.