Co-administration of a probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 CCM7766 with prebiotic inulin alleviates the intestinal inflammation in rats exposed to N,N-dimethylhydrazine.

The aim of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of preventive administration of a probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 CCM7766 alone or in combination with prebiotic inulin or with flax-seed oil in the gut of rats, which developed chronic inflammation following administration of the pro-carcinogen N,N-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). After 28weeks administration of probiotic/prebiotic-containing diet, rats were killed and their colons were examined by immunohistological criteria, whereas cytokines were determined in the jejunal mucosa. Application of DMH triggered the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α, expression of pro-inflammatory mediators NF-κB, COX-2 and iNOS and caused depletion of goblet cells. Supplementing the diet with L. plantarum and its combination with the prebiotic abolished DMH-induced inflammatory process in the jejunal mucosa by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and by stimulation of anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine synthesis, whereas concentration of TGF-ß1 was not influenced significantly. Diet prevented a decrease in goblet cell numbers but numbers of mast cells were lowered only moderately. However, combined treatment of rats with L. plantarum and flax-seed oil had no significant effect on the parameters examined, except for decreased expression of NF-κB, in comparison with the negative control. Results indicate that the preventive administration of probiotic L. plantarum LS/07 CCM7766 alone or in combination with prebiotic inulin to rats with DMH-induced chronic inflammation can reduce inflammatory process in the jejunal and colon mucosa, probably indirectly, and involves down-regulation of synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and suppression of NF-κB activity in mucosal cells.

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 ß-glucuronidase (P<0.001) and increased activities of ß-galactosidase and ß-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.

Beneficial modification of functional renal parameters in 5/6 nephrectomized rats by nutraceutical. In view of a kidney-protective intervention.

The objective of this study is to ascertain the potential beneficial effects of a novel phytoterapeutic formula (DTS, Kyotsu Jigyo, Japan) on renal function and morphological structure in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. Male Spraque-Dawley rats, 240-280 g, were divided into sham control (Group A) and nephrectomized (Group B and Group C) groups. The 5/6 nephrectomy was performed by removal of the right kidney and 2/3 ligation of left renal artery. After surgery, the animals were kept in individual cage for 6 weeks. Rats in Group A and Group B were fed with a normal protein diet only while those in Group C were fed normal protein diet added with DTS (10 mg/rat/day). The DTS supplementation was started a day after surgery. After 5 weeks, all rats were subjected to renal function study and then their left kidneys were isolated for morphological study. There were no significant differences in body weight, blood pressure, and heart rate among groups. DTS supplementation significantly increased (p<0.05) plasma creatinine concentration, glomerular filtration rate, effective renal plasma flow, and urine flow rate in nephrectomized rats when compared to sham control (Group A) and untreated nephrectomized (Group B) controls. In contrast, plasma urea concentration and morphological structure were not significantly modified by DTS supplementation in nephrectomized animals. These data suggest that feeding with a normal protein diet and DTS supplementation improves renal function without any morphological effect in 5/6 nephrectomized rats if not a slight preservation.(www.actabiomedica.it).

Effect on the immune system of germ-free piglets of probiotics potentiated with polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The present study investigated the influence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on the immune system of germ-free piglets. Oil with increased content of omega-3 PUFA was administered to piglets from the experimental group (EG) for four weeks. Piglets from the control group (CG) received identical volumes of saline solution. At the age of 21 days both groups of germ-free piglets were inoculated perorally with Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei at a dose of 2 ml (1x10(8) mli). At the age of 28 days, i.e. after one-week colonisation of germ-free piglets with Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei, significant differences were recorded in phagocytic activity of neutrophils (PANe) and phagocytic activity of potentially phagocytizing cells (PA) (P < 0.05). Between EG and CG there have been observed no significant differences in absolute numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and numbers of IgM cells and in additional investigated parameters - number of CD2+ T lymphocytes, index of phagocytic activity of neutrophils (IPANe) and index of phagocytic activity (IPA). The total number of leukocytes (Le) in EG was also higher. Of the parameters determined in blood serum we observed a significant increase in concentration of alpha linolenic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids and a parallel decrease in the level of arachidonic acid.

The influence of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 pufa) on lactobacilli adhesion to the intestinal mucosa and on immunity in gnotobiotic piglets.

The effect of application of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA) on intestinal colonization by Lactobacillus paracasei and on cellular immunity has been investigated in gnotobiotic pigs. The administration of polyunsaturated fatty acids positively affected the adhesion of Lactobacillus paracasei to the jejunal mucosa of gnotobiotic piglets. When compared to the control group, the number of Lactobacillus paracasei adhering to the jejunal mucosa was by 12% higher in piglets of the experimental group (5.10 log 10/cm2 vs. 4.55 log 10/cm2). The respective counts of Lactobacillus paracasei adhering to the ileal and colonic mucosa of 28 day old gnotobiotic piglets reached 4.45 and 5.05 log 10/cm2 in group C and 4.44 and 4.95 log 10/cm2 in group E. Omega-3 PUFA supplementation increased the phagocytic activity of neutrophils by almost 100% on day 28 of life as well as the subpopulations of lymphocytes (CD8) in the peripheral blood of germ-free piglets on day 21 of life. Our results indicate that the action of probiotics in the gut may be modulated by dietary PUFA. The stimulatory effect of PUFA upon adhesion of lactobacilli could be used for enhancing the effectiveness of probiotics in inhibiting digestive tract pathogens.