<i>Ocimum sanctum</i> , <i>Zingiber officinale,</i> and <i>Piper nigrum</i> extracts and their effects on gut microbiota modulations (prebiotic potential), basal inflammatory markers and lipid levels: oral supplementation study in healthy rats
Narendra Kondapalli, Hemalatha Rajkumar, Uppala Satyanarayana, Srinivas Reddy Yathapu, Shujauddin Mohammed, Surekha Venkata Mullapudi, Ananthan Rajendran, Dinesh Kumar Bharadwaj
Abstract
CONTEXT: Linn (Piperaceae) (PN) are used in traditional medicine as immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory, and bioavailability enhancer agents. OBJECTIVE: Active phytoconstituents of OS, ZO, PN hydro-alcoholic extracts and their effects on gut microbiota, basal inflammation and lipid profile were investigated in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Active phytoconstituents of extracts were analysed using HPLC and GC-MS. SD rats were supplemented with individual/combined extracts (OS-850; ZO-500; PN-100 mg/kg Bw) and Fructooligosaccharide (standard prebiotic-5g/kg-Bw), orally for 30 days. Haematology, lipid profile, LPS, CRP, IL-6, insulin and histology of vital organs were analysed. Caecal bacterial levels were assessed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: 0.05) decrease in plasma lipid profile and LPS was noted in all supplemented rats. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The current study could be first of its kind in exploring prebiotic potential of OS, ZO, PN and their effect on native gut bacterial population.