Lactiplantibacillus pentosus C87 Exopolysaccharide: A Novel Therapeutic Gut-Brain Axis Modulator in Parkinson's Disease Model

Abinash RaviIeshita Pan^*

• Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha University, Chennai, India

Neurodegeneration, marked by neuronal loss, underlies disorders like Parkinson’s disease (PD). The gut-brain axis (GBA) links gut microbiota to PD pathogenesis, where dysbiosis drives oxidative stress and inflammation. Microbial metabolites like exopolysaccharides (EPS) from probiotics offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, making them potential therapeutics. The exploration of non-conventional sauerkraut fermentation involved fermenting cabbage for 45 days, during which 90 isolates were screened based on their probiotic potential. Among them, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus C87 emerged as a promising candidate for establishing exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and promoting gut homeostasis. The working strain C87 showed maximum growth at 37°C, with an optimal incubation period of 72 hours under shaking conditions at 140 rpm. Bacterial growth and EPS production were significantly increased by 1.13-fold and 2.71-fold when MRS was supplemented with 1% inulin. The extracted EPS is a homopolysaccharide and partially purified through ethanol precipitation. FTIR absorption peaks at 3340 cm⁻¹, 2930 cm⁻¹, 1655 cm⁻¹, 1400 cm⁻¹, 843.59 cm⁻¹, and 915 cm⁻¹ together indicate the presence of polysaccharides. These peaks specifically suggest the presence of sugars and functional groups such as hydroxyls and glycosidic bonds. Lactiplantibacillus pentosus C87 EPS was further investigated for its neuroprotective potential against PD. Behavioral assays assessed motor function and anxiety-like behaviors, while biochemical analyses measured oxidative stress markers (SOD, CAT, GSH, GST, and LPO), inflammatory markers (TNFα, IL10), tight junction proteins (ZO-1, claudin-1), and apoptotic markers (p53). EPS supplementation significantly improved gut homeostasis by enhancing locomotor activity and reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Histological analysis of the zebrafish gut and brain revealed that EPS supplementation preserved gut integrity and maintained normal brain morphology against damage induced by rotenone. This study highlights that EPS may offer a promising therapeutic approach to mitigate PD progression by restoring gut microbiota balance and alleviating neuroinflammatory responses for neurodegenerative disease management.