Probiotic-Based Intervention in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: Conventional and New Approaches

Although there are number of available therapies for ulcerative colitis (UC), many patients are unresponsive to these treatments or experience secondary failure during treatment. Thus, the development of new therapies or alternative strategies with minimal side effects is inevitable. Strategies targeting dysbiosis of gut microbiota have been tested in the management of UC due to the unquestionable role of gut microbiota in the etiology of UC. Advanced molecular analyses of gut microbiomes revealed evident dysbiosis in UC patients, characterized by a reduced biodiversity of commensal microbiota. Administration of conventional probiotic strains is a commonly applied approach in the management of the disease to modify the gut microbiome, improve intestinal barrier integrity and function, and maintain a balanced immune response. However, conventional probiotics do not always provide the expected health benefits to a patient. Their benefits vary significantly, depending on the type and stage of the disease and the strain and dose of the probiotics administered. Their mechanism of action is also strain-dependent. Recently, new candidates for potential next-generation probiotics have been discovered. This could bring to light new approaches in the restoration of microbiome homeostasis and in UC treatment in a targeted manner. The aim of this paper is to provide an updated review on the current options of probiotic-based therapies, highlight the effective conventional probiotic strains, and outline the future possibilities of next-generation probiotic and postbiotic supplementation and fecal microbiota transplantation in the management of UC

Prebiotics and bioactive natural substances induce changes of composition and metabolic activities of the colonic microflora in cancerous rats

Prebiotics are defined as selectively fermented food ingredients that induce specific changes in the composition and/or activity in the gastrointestinal microbiota beneficial to the host well-being and health. The aim of the presented experiment was to investigate the effect of a prebiotic applied alone or in combination with Hyppocastani extractum siccum, and Lini oleum virginale in rats with dimethylhydrazine induced colon cancer. Wistar albino rats were fed high fat diet supplemented with the prebiotic alone or in combination with Horse chestnut and flaxseed oil. The activity of faecal glycolytic enzymes, lipid parameters, bile acids, short chain fatty acids and counts of coliforms and lactobacilli were determined. Treatment with the prebiotic alone and in combination with selected substances significantly decreased the activity of glycolytic bacterial enzyme β-glucuronidase (P<0.001) and increased activities of β-galactosidase and β-glucosidase. Bile acids concentration was significantly decreased (P<0.01) except for the combination of the prebiotic with Horse chestnut. The prebiotic alone decreased the lipid parameters (P<0.001) and enhanced production of short chain fatty acids. Application of prebiotic and bioactive natural substances significantly reduced number of coliforms (P<0.05). Prebiotic alone significantly increased the count of lactobacilli (P<0.05). These results show that prebiotics have a protective effect and may be the useful for colon cancer prevention and treatment

Prebiotics and bioactive natural substances induce changes of composition and metabolic activities of the colonic microflora in cancerous rats

Prebiotics are defined as selectively fermented food ingredients that induce specific changes in the composition and/or activity in the gastrointestinal microbiota beneficial to the host well-being and health. The aim of the presented experiment was to investigate the effect of a prebiotic applied alone or in combination with Hyppocastani extractum siccum, and Lini oleum virginale in rats with dimethylhydrazine induced colon cancer. Wistar albino rats were fed high fat diet supplemented with the prebiotic alone or in combination with Horse chestnut and flaxseed oil. The activity of faecal glycolytic enzymes, lipid parameters, bile acids, short chain fatty acids and counts of coliforms and lactobacilli were determined. Treatment with the prebiotic alone and in combination with selected substances significantly decreased the activity of glycolytic bacterial enzyme β-glucuronidase (P<0.001) and increased activities of β-galactosidase and β-glucosidase. Bile acids concentration was significantly decreased (P<0.01) except for the combination of the prebiotic with Horse chestnut. The prebiotic alone decreased the lipid parameters (P<0.001) and enhanced production of short chain fatty acids. Application of prebiotic and bioactive natural substances significantly reduced number of coliforms (P<0.05). Prebiotic alone significantly increased the count of lactobacilli (P<0.05). These results show that prebiotics have a protective effect and may be the useful for colon cancer prevention and treatment

The Importance of Natural Antioxidants in Female Reproduction

Oxidative stress (OS) has an important role in female reproduction, whether it is ovulation, endometrium decidualization, menstruation, oocyte fertilization, or development andimplantation of an embryo in the uterus. The menstrual cycle is regulated by the physiological concentration of reactive forms of oxygen and nitrogen as redox signal molecules, which trigger and regulate the length of individual phases of the menstrual cycle. It has been suggested that the decline in female fertility is modulated by pathological OS. The pathological excess of OS compared to antioxidants triggers many disorders of female reproduction which could lead to gynecological diseases and to infertility. Therefore, antioxidants are crucial for proper female reproductive function. They play a part in the metabolism of oocytes; in endometrium maturation via the activation of antioxidant signaling pathways Nrf2 and NF-κB; and in the hormonal regulation of vascular action. Antioxidants can directly scavenge radicals and act as a cofactor of highly valuable enzymes of cell differentiation and development, or enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Compensation for low levels of antioxidants through their supplementation can improve fertility. This review considers the role of selected vitamins, flavonoids, peptides, and trace elements with antioxidant effects in female reproduction mechanisms

The Effects of Two Lactobacillus plantarum

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of the different probiotic strains, Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 and Lactobacillus plantarum Biocenol LP96, on lipid metabolism and body weight in rats fed a high fat diet. Compared with the high fat diet group, the results showed that Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 reduced serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, but Lactobacillus plantarum Biocenol LP96 decreased triglycerides and VLDL, while there was no change in the serum HDL level and liver lipids. Both probiotic strains lowered total bile acids in serum. Our strains have no significant change in body weight, gain weight, and body fat. These findings indicate that the effect of lactobacilli on lipid metabolism may differ among strains and that the Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 and Lactobacillus plantarum Biocenol LP96 can be used to improve lipid profile and can contribute to a healthier bowel microbial balance

Ability of Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 to modify intestinal enzymes activity in chronic diseases prevention

The ability of probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 to modify the activity of intestinal bacterial enzymes - β-glucuronidase (β-GLUCUR), β-galactosidase (β-GAL), and β-glucosidase (β-GLU) in prevention of chronic diseases - cancer, atherosclerosis and dysbiosis was investigated. The male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 12 experimental groups: controls groups - C (control), AT (atherosclerotic), CC (carcinogenic), dysbiotic groups - each group in combination with antibiotics (ATB), probiotics groups - in combinatioan with probiotic (PRO) alone, and each group with combination of antibiotic and probiotic (ATB+PRO). In the control group the β-glucuronidase activity did not change throughout the experiment. High fat diet in atherosclerotic group significantly increased the activity of β-glucuronidase (P<0.001) and β-glucosidase (P<0.01). Azoxymethane application in carcinogenic group significantly increased β-glucuronidase (P<0.01), but reduced β-glucosidase (P<0.01) activity. Daily application of probiotics alone and in combination with antibiotic increased β-galactosidase, of β-glucosidase, and decreased β-glucuronidase activity. In control antibiotic group we observed significant increase in β-glucuronidase (P<0.05) and decreased β-glucosidase (P<0.01) activity which can be caused by the change of microflora in favor of coliform bacteria. These findings indicate the positive effects of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 and suggest its use in disease prevention in human medicine and some animal species