Prophylactic use of probiotic chocolate modulates intestinal physiological functions in constipated rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND This study investigated the in vivo prophylactic effect of probiotic chocolate on constipation. Rats were administered chocolate containing 2.5 × 1010 CFU g−1 of probiotics daily for 4 weeks and treated with loperamide (5 mg kg−1) daily at the fourth week of treatment. RESULTS Probiotic chocolate treatment significantly (P < 0.05) increased the intestinal motility, colon length, fecal moisture content and number of excreted fecal pellets in constipated rats. Moreover, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction data and histological images also revealed that both probiotic chocolate LYC and BB12 treatments were capable of upregulating the mRNA expression levels of colonic ZO‐1, occludin and AQP8, leading to the maintenance of the defensive barrier function in the constipated rats compared with the negative controls. Interestingly, these treatments also modulated gut bacterial populations by increasing the abundance levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, as well as reducing the abundance level of Enterobacteriaceae. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrated that probiotic chocolate LYC and BB12 could potentially be used as alternative agents for prophylactic constipation. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

Lactobacillus‐fermented milk products attenuate bone loss in an experimental rat model of ovariectomy‐induced post‐menopausal primary osteoporosis

“…The mRNA expression levels of the targeted genes in tibia, ileum and colon tissues were determined as previously described (Lee et al . 2019). The genes and primer sequences used in the study are listed in Table (Ahmed and EL‐Maraghy 2013; Borges et al .…”

“…2018; Lee et al . 2019). Relative mRNA expression levels of the targeted genes were calculated using Bid‐Rad CFX Manager software (Bio‐Rad, Hercules, CA); the mRNA levels of β‐actin gene (housekeeping gene) were used for normalization.…”

“…2012; Lee et al . 2019). The relative abundance of the targeted bacterial population was then determined using MG 2X qPCR MasterMix (SYBR green) (MGmed, Seoul, South Korea) in a CFX connect real‐time PCR machine (Bio‐Rad).…”

“…The mRNA expression levels of the targeted genes in tibia, ileum and colon tissues were determined as previously described (Lee et al 2019). The genes and primer sequences used in the study are listed in Table S1 ( Ahmed and EL-Maraghy 2013;Borges et al 2013;Yang et al 2014;Pan et al 2015;Guo et al 2016;Picke et al 2016;Zhao et al 2016;Zhang et al 2018;Lee et al 2019;Park et al 2019) and Table S2 (Kutuzova and DeLuca 2004;Khan et al 2010;Borges et al 2013;Sun et al 2016;Kim et al 2017;Zhang et al 2018;Lee et al 2019). Relative mRNA expression levels of the targeted genes were calculated using Bid-Rad CFX Manager software (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA); the mRNA levels of b-actin gene (housekeeping gene) were used for normalization.…”

Amylase‐Producing Maltooligosaccharide Provides Potential Relief in Rats with Loperamide‐Induced Constipation

“…Changes in fecal pellet number, weight, and water content in rats with loperamide-induced constipation are important factors that need to be improved while aiming to relieve constipation. Previous studies have reported a marked reduction in the fecal pellet count, weight, and water content, in rats treated with loperamide [ 22 , 23 ], whereas prebiotic intake is known to improve the fecal parameters [ 24 , 25 ]. The MOS used in this study also improved the fecal pellet number and water content (Figures 2 and 3 ).…”