AUTHOR=Hsiao Yao-Kun , Lee Bao-Hong , Wu She-Ching 

TITLE=Lactiplantibacillus plantarum-encapsulated microcapsules prepared from okra polysaccharides improved intestinal microbiota in Alzheimer’s disease mice

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1305617

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1305617

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Background</title><p>Okra contains a viscous substance rich in water-soluble material, including fibers, pectin, proteoglycans, gum, and polysaccharides. This study explored the use of okra polysaccharides by microorganisms and their potential to improve microbiota.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>The regulation of microcapsules prepared from okra polysaccharides with or without <italic>L. plantarum</italic> encapsulation on intestinal microbiota was assessed through 16S metagenomic analysis and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in App<italic><sup>NL-G-F/NL-G-F</sup></italic> mice (Alzheimer’s disease; AD model).</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>We found that <italic>Lactobacillaceae</italic> and <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> were majorly regulated by microcapsules prepared from okra polysaccharides in AD mice. Similarly, microcapsules prepared from okra polysaccharides with <italic>L. plantarum</italic> encapsulation markedly elevated the abundance of <italic>Lactobacillaceae</italic> and <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> and increased SCFAs in AD mice.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>Our results suggest that microcapsules prepared from okra polysaccharides with or without <italic>L. plantarum</italic> encapsulation may improve intestinal microbiota by elevating <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> levels in AD mice.</p></sec>