Beneficial effect of synbiotic combination of Limosilactobacillus fermentum FS-10, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp1-IC and short-chain Fructooligosaccharides in colitis murine model

Therapies targeting gut-microbiota are being extensively researched for colitis patients. In this study, we have tested the efficacy of indigenously isolated strains Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp1-IC and Limosilactobacillus fermentum FS-10 and their combination with short chain fructooligosaccharides (sc-FOS) in mice models of DSS-induced colitis. For a desired efficacy, a synbiotic should be very meticulously formulated with the right choice of prebiotic and probiotic. Therefore, the ability of Lactobacilli to selectively utilize scFOS for growth was first tested by culturing the strains in a specially designed minimal media supplemented with scFOS as carbon source. The bacteria utilized scFOS and produced metabolites such as acetate and lactate. Thereafter, the in vitro anti-inflammatory effect was tested on markers such as TNF-alpha (TNF-α), Nitric Oxide and IL-10 in human monocyte (THP-1) and mouse macrophage (Raw 264-7) cell lines. The in vivo efficacy was studied in mice model of DSS-induced colitis and the effect on the systemic and localized inflammatory markers were assessed in serum and colon tissues samples respectively. Administration of DSS elicited predominant clinical signs of weight loss, diarrhoea, fecal occult blood, increase in inflammatory markers and extensive damage of colon tissue. These symptoms were significantly reversed in all the treatment groups, however the combination of lactobacilli and scFOS performed better than the individual ingredients. The study highlights the potential of the indigenous lactobacilli strains, scFOS and their combination for management of gut-inflammation in colitis patients.