Vital Organ Protection and Hypolipidemic Activities of Lactobacillus Species Isolated from Ogi on Rats With Imbalance Gut Microbiota

Student: Oyeyemi Mary Omoedu (Project, 2025)
Department of Microbiology
Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State


Abstract

Antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis can impair gastrointestinal function, alter microbialmetabolism, and compromise intestinal barrier integrity. This study evaluated the effects ofLactobacillus species isolated from ogi on multiple aspects of gut functionality in Wistar rats.Thirty-six rats were allocated into nine groups. Dysbiosis was induced by oral administrationof amoxicillin (42.16mg/kg body weight) for 7 days, followed by probiotic treatment withLactiplantibacillus plantarum (PC1), Lacticaseibacillus casei (PJ1), and Lacticaseibacillusparacasei (PJ3) at 2 × 10⁹ CFU/mL for 7–14 days. Gut transit time was determined using anactivated charcoal marker, revealing marked differences among groups: Group 7 recorded thefastest transit (0.55 ± 0.31 h), while Group 5 exhibited the slowest (4.31 ± 2.57 h).Gastrointestinal motility, assessed via phenol red retention, was highest in Group 1(2.413 ± 0.027%) and lowest in Group 6 (1.510 ± 0.043%). Fecal fatty acid profiling by gaschromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) in Group 1 showed prominent levels ofmethyl myristoleate (4.15 µg/g), methyl tetradecanoate (3.60 µg/g), cis-11,14-eicosadienoicacid (2.60 µg/g), arachidonic acid (2.30 µg/g), and tridecanoic acid (2.05 µg/g), with a notablylow level of docosahexaenoic acid (0.35 µg/g). In addition, the intestinal permeability testindicated reduced dye leakage in probiotic-treated groups, reflecting enhanced barrierintegrity. Ogi derived Lactobacillus species improved gut health by increasing beneficialbacteria, reducing coliforms, and enhancing gut transit, motility, and barrier function. Theprobiotics also influenced microbial metabolism, suggesting their potential as bio therapeuticagents for restoring gut balance after antibiotic induced dysbiosis.

Keywords
vital organ protection hypolipidemic activities lactobacillus species isolated imbalance microbiota