Abstract:Synbiotics is a microbial formulation composed of probiotics and prebiotics that can simultaneously exhibit the functions of both. The previous study of the author has confirmed that Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) CCFM8661 is a strain with significant protective effects against lead toxicity. Stachyose is a high-quality prebiotic oligosaccharide, known for its physiological functions such as regulating gut microbiota, providing antioxidant effects, and aiding in detoxification. The author investigated the effects of a synbiotic combination of L. plantarum CCFM8661 and stachyose on alleviating liver and kidney damage induced by lead exposure in mice, and explored its impacts on physiological and biochemical indicators in mouse tissues, gut microbiota structure, and fecal metabolites. The results showed that the combined application of of L. plantarum CCFM8661 and stachyose significantly enhanced the alleviation of lead poisoning, with the high-dose combination showing a more pronounced effect in reducing the lead mass fraction in tissues and mitigating antioxidative damage. Moreover, the combined intervention of L. plantarum CCFM8661 and stachyose significantly affected the abundance of specific gut bacteria such as Ruminococcaceae UCG-014, Ruminococcus 1, Alistipes, and Akkermansia. It also modulated gut microbiota metabolism, influencing the levels of hippuric acid, 3-phenylpropionic acid, estrophin, as well as various short-chain fatty acids and amino acids, which may provide potential benefits for mice with lead poisoning. These findings suggested CCFM8661 compound stachyose may serve as a novel formulation for the mitigation of intestinal lead toxicity.
