Youyou Lu1, Junxue Zhang1, Zhe Zhang1, Xi Liang1, Tongjie Liu1, Huaxi Yi1, Pimin Gong1, Lingli Wang1, Wenjun Yang1, Xinyi Zhang1, Lanwei Zhang2, Liuqing Yang3, Hanping Shi4. 1. College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China. 2. College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China. Electronic address: zhanglanwei@ouc.edu.cn. 3. Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery/Department of Clinical Nutrition, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 4. Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery/Department of Clinical Nutrition, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: shihp@ccmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Various probiotics and natural products can help to relieve constipation. This study aimed to explore the constipation-relieving effects and potential mechanism of a combination laxative of konjac glucomannan and probiotics. METHODS: This study evaluated the gastrointestinal-tract viability of probiotics in vitro. A constipation model was constructed in BALB/c mice, and the efficacies of the combinations verified in terms of their bowel movement-promoting effects, including the first black-stool defecation time and gastrointestinal transit rates of mice. Colonization by the probiotics was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, gas chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot were also used for analysis. RESULTS: Lactobacillus paracasei X11 (X11) and L. casei YRL577 (YRL577) had outstanding gastrointestinal-tract viability. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) + X11, Prunus persica + X11, and Prunus persica + YRL577 significantly relieved constipation. In addition, KGM promoted the colonization of X11. Meanwhile, KGM + X11 effectively promoted the metabolism of short-chain fatty acids in mice better than other combinations, and the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) content in the KGM + X11 group was the highest among all the groups. Therefore, KGM + X11 was selected for further research. The combination laxative promoted the secretion of 5-HT, up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of 5-HT receptor 4 and serotonin transporter via the 5-HT pathway, and effectively relieved constipation. CONCLUSIONS: The combination laxative konjac glucomannan-probiotic (KGM + X11) promoted defecation in constipated mice, possibly by increasing short-chain fatty acid metabolism and 5-HT hormone release.
OBJECTIVES: Various probiotics and natural products can help to relieve constipation. This study aimed to explore the constipation-relieving effects and potential mechanism of a combination laxative of konjac glucomannan and probiotics. METHODS: This study evaluated the gastrointestinal-tract viability of probiotics in vitro. A constipation model was constructed in BALB/c mice, and the efficacies of the combinations verified in terms of their bowel movement-promoting effects, including the first black-stool defecation time and gastrointestinal transit rates of mice. Colonization by the probiotics was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, gas chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot were also used for analysis. RESULTS:Lactobacillus paracaseiX11 (X11) and L. caseiYRL577 (YRL577) had outstanding gastrointestinal-tract viability. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) + X11, Prunus persica + X11, and Prunus persica + YRL577 significantly relieved constipation. In addition, KGM promoted the colonization of X11. Meanwhile, KGM + X11 effectively promoted the metabolism of short-chain fatty acids in mice better than other combinations, and the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) content in the KGM + X11 group was the highest among all the groups. Therefore, KGM + X11 was selected for further research. The combination laxative promoted the secretion of 5-HT, up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of 5-HT receptor 4 and serotonin transporter via the 5-HT pathway, and effectively relieved constipation. CONCLUSIONS: The combination laxative konjac glucomannan-probiotic (KGM + X11) promoted defecation in constipatedmice, possibly by increasing short-chain fatty acid metabolism and 5-HT hormone release.