1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, 751003
2Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Chhattisgarh, Chhattisgarh, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
3Medical Research Laboratory, IMS and Sum Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, 751003
4School of Pharmacy, ARKA JAIN University, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India, 832108
5Gondia College of Pharmacy, Chlood, Road, Gondia, 441601, Maharashtra
*Corresponding Author E-mail: shaktiketanprusty@soa.ac.in
A growing body of research links diabetes to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), possibly through mutual pathological mechanisms. This study explores the role of gut microbiota, specifically the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus casei (L. casei), in diabetes-induced AD (DI-AD). Using a rat model injected with streptozotocin (STZ), we assessed the effects of L. casei, donepezil (DNP), and their combination over a 21-day period. L. casei significantly improved cognitive function in behavioural tests, increased antioxidant enzyme (SOD) levels, and reduced oxidative stress marker (MDA) levels. RT-PCR analysis showed enhanced beneficial gut bacteria and reduced E. coli, indicating improved gut health. Additionally, L. casei treatment lowered amyloid-β levels and reduced neurodegeneration in both gut and hippocampal tissues. These results suggest that L. casei, especially when combined with DNP, may protect against DI-AD by modulating gut microbiota and reducing neuroinflammation and amyloid pathology, offering a promising therapeutic approach.
Alzheimer’s, Gut-brain axis, Lacticaseibacillus casei, Neurodegeneration
