Hyperuricemia (HUA) is widespread, and since conventional long-term treatments can be toxic, safer multi-target alternatives are required. Here, we tested a naturally derived synbiotic pairing of the uricolytic probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri SYP-B4432 with a polyphenol-rich Rumex hanus by. extract in a mouse model of hyperuricemia. In just five weeks of daily treatment, the combination reduced serum uric acid by 57.86%, suppressed serum xanthine oxidase activity by 14.31%, and restored the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio while lowering pro-inflammatory cytokines and attenuating renal histopathology. Importantly, no hepatic/renal impairment or body weight abnormalities were detected, confirming the safety of this intervention. Collectively, the probiotic–herbal duo alleviates HUA through the synergy of three modes of action: curtailing uric acid synthesis (via XOD inhibition), reshaping gut microbiota (to enhance UA excretion), and resolving renal inflammation (via cytokine modulation). This natural, safe, and multi-target synbiotic provides a clinically translatable strategy that may address the side effect limitations of conventional hyperuricemia drugs.

The gut microbiome is home to trillions of microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses, that coexist harmoniously in healthy individuals. However, disruptions to this balance, such as dietary changes, can lead to dysbiosis, affecting normal gut functions. With the recent urbanization of the Philippine countryside, western diets are becoming increasingly common and may alter the gut microbiome, predisposing even children to metabolic disorders. Hence, this cross-sectional study aimed to determine the association of a westernized diet with the gut microbiome profiles of school-aged children in rural and urban communities in Leyte, Philippines and assess their association with childhood obesity. Based on interviews, physical examinations, and dietary questionnaires, similar anthropometric traits were observed among the participants. Macronutrient analysis revealed that urban children consumed more fats and had higher total energy intakes, revealing a more westernized type of diet, while rural children had higher carbohydrate and fiber-rich intakes. This dietary contrast significantly influences the gut microbiome profile, with rural children having greater microbial diversity and higher levels of fiber-fermenting bacteria from the Prevotellaceae family, whereas urban children harbored more Bacteroides and Ligilactobacillus ruminis. Correlation analysis linked fat-rich diets with reduced abundances of fiber-fermenting bacteria, such as Succinivibrio and Segatella. Participants were also sub-grouped based on their BMI-for-age classification. The urban overweight-obese group exhibited a higher intake of dietary fats and a distinct microbiome profile characterized by taxa previously reported in obesity-associated gut communities. These findings suggest emerging risks for the gut health of Filipino children undergoing nutrition transition and may offer insights for shaping future nutrition initiatives that support their well-being.

This study aimed to investigate the intestinal microecological mechanisms underlying the effects of Sishen Pill (SSP) on diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) with Spleen-Kidney Yang Deficiency Syndrome, thereby providing experimental evidence for clinical management. Murine models of IBS-D characterized by Spleen-Kidney Yang insufficiency were established in SPF-grade female Kunming mice by Folium senna-adenine gavage in conjunction with restraint-tail clamping. Experimental groups received SSP decoction or pinaverium bromide suspension. Intestinal morphological changes were assessed via Alcian blue staining. The concentrations of serum D-lactate and diamine oxidase were measured through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The intestinal mucosal microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The model mice exhibited reduced anal temperatures, diarrhea, weight loss, intestinal mucosal barrier injury, and altered mucosal microbiota. SSP treatment alleviated these abnormalities, decreased serum D-LA and DAO levels, and improved the intestinal mucosal structure. Microbiota analysis identified Alkaliphilus as a potential genus associated with SSP intervention, while Streptococcus and Maribacter were correlated with intestinal barrier indicators. These findings suggest that SSP may improve IBS-D with Spleen-Kidney Yang Deficiency by modulating the intestinal mucosal microbiota and restoring mucosal barrier function.

Intestinal barrier dysfunction is a key pathological factor in various chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease. This study compared the barrier-protective effects and mechanisms of two heat-treated plant-derived lactic acid bacteria (P-LAB) strains, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LOC1 isolated from tea leaves and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei RO24 isolated from traditional Japanese pickles, using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated intestinal epithelial cell models. Barrier integrity was evaluated in Caco-2 and HT29 cells by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and paracellular permeability to Lucifer Yellow, together with analyses of tight junction–related gene expression, inflammatory cytokines, and global proteomic profiling integrated with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. LPS exposure significantly impaired barrier function in both cell lines. Pretreatment with either strain significantly suppressed LPS-induced increases in paracellular permeability, whereas TEER recovery was strain- and cell-line-dependent. L. plantarum LOC1 effectively restored TEER in Caco-2 cells, while L. paracasei RO24 exerted significant protective effects primarily in HT29 cells. Mechanistic analyses revealed distinct modes of action between the two strains. L. plantarum LOC1 showed broad anti-inflammatory activity and maintained the expression of JAM-A and occludin, representing a comprehensive barrier-protective strategy. In contrast, L. paracasei RO24 selectively preserved Claudin-1, Claudin-3, and Claudin-7, indicating a structural reinforcement strategy. Proteomic and pathway analyses confirmed reactivation of tight junction signaling by both strains. These findings indicate that heat-treated P-LAB strains can exert strain-specific protective effects on intestinal epithelial barrier function under the present experimental conditions.

The intestinal barrier plays a crucial role in host metabolic and immune homeostasis; however, its integrity can be disrupted by factors such as lipopolysaccharides, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress. Although Bifidobacterium species are considered beneficial members of the gut microbiota, their strain-specific effects on epithelial barrier integrity and the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. We investigated the protective effects of four heat-killed strains of bifidobacteria, B. pseudocatenulatum YIT 11057, B. adolescentis YIT 13021, B. bifidum YIT 10347, and B. breve YIT 4014, on intestinal barrier function using T84 monolayers, a widely used in vitro model of the intestinal epithelium that retains many colon-like properties. Among the tested strains, only B. adolescentis YIT 13021 (YIT 13021) consistently protected against barrier disruption induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines, highlighting species-enriched but strain-dependent functional properties within B. adolescentis. YIT 13021 preserved tight junction integrity in association with preserved localization of zonula occludens-1 and attenuated stimulus-induced nuclear localization of nuclear factor-kappa B. Furthermore, live YIT 13021 exerted superior barrier-protective effects than its heat-killed counterpart, and its protective efficacy was further increased when cultured in the presence of starch, suggesting that metabolic activity and substrate availability influence functional outcomes. These findings demonstrate functional heterogeneity among Bifidobacterium strains, provide insights into potential mechanisms underlying microbiota-mediated modulation of epithelial integrity, and identify B. adolescentis YIT 13021 as a promising candidate for supporting intestinal barrier homeostasis.