Synergistic Effects of Licorice Root and Walnut Leaf Extracts on Gastrointestinal Candidiasis, Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Composition in Mice
ABSTRACT Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that causes gastrointestinal (GI) candidiasis closely associated with intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis. Drug resistance, side effects of available antifungal agents, and the high recurrence of candidiasis highlight the need for new treatmen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Spectrum |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02355-21 |
| _version_ | 1818141822870880256 |
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| author | Hélène Authier Valérie Bardot Lucile Berthomier Bénédicte Bertrand Claude Blondeau Sophie Holowacz Agnès Coste |
| author_facet | Hélène Authier Valérie Bardot Lucile Berthomier Bénédicte Bertrand Claude Blondeau Sophie Holowacz Agnès Coste |
| author_sort | Hélène Authier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that causes gastrointestinal (GI) candidiasis closely associated with intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis. Drug resistance, side effects of available antifungal agents, and the high recurrence of candidiasis highlight the need for new treatments. We investigated the effects of hydroethanolic extracts of licorice root (LRE) and walnut leaf (WLE) on GI colonization by C. albicans, colon inflammation, and gut microbiota composition in C57BL/6 female mice. Oral administration of LRE and WLE alone or in combination once daily for 12 days before C. albicans infection and then for 5 days after infection significantly reduced the level of C. albicans in the feces of gastrointestinal infected mice as well as colonization of the GI tract, both extracts showing robust antifungal activity. Although total bacterial content was unaffected by the extracts (individually or combined), the abundance of protective bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium spp. and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, increased with the combination, in contrast to that of certain pathobiont bacteria, which decreased. Interestingly, the combination induced a more robust decrease in the expression of proinflammatory genes than either extract alone. The anti-inflammatory activity of the combination was further supported by the reciprocal increase in the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and the significant decrease in enzymes involved in the synthesis of proinflammatory eicosanoids and oxidative stress. These findings suggest that LRE and WLE have synergistic effects and that the LRE/WLE combination could be a good candidate for limiting GI candidiasis and associated inflammation, likely by modulating the composition of the gut microbiota. IMPORTANCE The adverse effects and emergence of resistance of currently available antifungals and the high recurrence of candidiasis prompt the need for alternative and complementary strategies. We demonstrated that oral administration of hydroethanolic extracts of licorice root (LRE) and walnut leaf (WLE) separately or in combination significantly reduced the colonization of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract by C. albicans, highlighting a robust antifungal activity of these plant extracts. Interestingly, our data indicate a correlation between LRE and WLE consumption, in particular the combination, and a shift within the gut microbiome toward a protective profile, a decrease in colonic inflammation and prooxidant enzymes, suggesting a synergistic effect. This study highlights the significant prebiotic potential of the LRE/WLE combination and suggests that the health benefits are due, at least in part, to their ability to modulate the gut microbiota, reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, and protect against opportunistic infection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:06:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-976c92298bd84824838084f4ef0531aa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2165-0497 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:06:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj.art-976c92298bd84824838084f4ef0531aa2022-12-22T01:09:41ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972022-04-0110210.1128/spectrum.02355-21Synergistic Effects of Licorice Root and Walnut Leaf Extracts on Gastrointestinal Candidiasis, Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Composition in MiceHélène Authier0Valérie Bardot1Lucile Berthomier2Bénédicte Bertrand3Claude Blondeau4Sophie Holowacz5Agnès Coste6Geroscience and Rejuvenation Research Center (RESTORE), UMR 1301-Inserm 5070-CNRS EFS, Université P. Sabatier, Toulouse, FrancePiLeJe Industrie, Saint-Bonnet-de-Rochefort, FrancePiLeJe Industrie, Saint-Bonnet-de-Rochefort, FranceGeroscience and Rejuvenation Research Center (RESTORE), UMR 1301-Inserm 5070-CNRS EFS, Université P. Sabatier, Toulouse, FrancePiLeJe Laboratoire, Paris, FrancePiLeJe Laboratoire, Paris, FranceGeroscience and Rejuvenation Research Center (RESTORE), UMR 1301-Inserm 5070-CNRS EFS, Université P. Sabatier, Toulouse, FranceABSTRACT Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that causes gastrointestinal (GI) candidiasis closely associated with intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis. Drug resistance, side effects of available antifungal agents, and the high recurrence of candidiasis highlight the need for new treatments. We investigated the effects of hydroethanolic extracts of licorice root (LRE) and walnut leaf (WLE) on GI colonization by C. albicans, colon inflammation, and gut microbiota composition in C57BL/6 female mice. Oral administration of LRE and WLE alone or in combination once daily for 12 days before C. albicans infection and then for 5 days after infection significantly reduced the level of C. albicans in the feces of gastrointestinal infected mice as well as colonization of the GI tract, both extracts showing robust antifungal activity. Although total bacterial content was unaffected by the extracts (individually or combined), the abundance of protective bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium spp. and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, increased with the combination, in contrast to that of certain pathobiont bacteria, which decreased. Interestingly, the combination induced a more robust decrease in the expression of proinflammatory genes than either extract alone. The anti-inflammatory activity of the combination was further supported by the reciprocal increase in the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and the significant decrease in enzymes involved in the synthesis of proinflammatory eicosanoids and oxidative stress. These findings suggest that LRE and WLE have synergistic effects and that the LRE/WLE combination could be a good candidate for limiting GI candidiasis and associated inflammation, likely by modulating the composition of the gut microbiota. IMPORTANCE The adverse effects and emergence of resistance of currently available antifungals and the high recurrence of candidiasis prompt the need for alternative and complementary strategies. We demonstrated that oral administration of hydroethanolic extracts of licorice root (LRE) and walnut leaf (WLE) separately or in combination significantly reduced the colonization of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract by C. albicans, highlighting a robust antifungal activity of these plant extracts. Interestingly, our data indicate a correlation between LRE and WLE consumption, in particular the combination, and a shift within the gut microbiome toward a protective profile, a decrease in colonic inflammation and prooxidant enzymes, suggesting a synergistic effect. This study highlights the significant prebiotic potential of the LRE/WLE combination and suggests that the health benefits are due, at least in part, to their ability to modulate the gut microbiota, reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, and protect against opportunistic infection.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02355-21candidiasisgut inflammationlicoriceplant extractprebioticwalnut |
| spellingShingle | Hélène Authier Valérie Bardot Lucile Berthomier Bénédicte Bertrand Claude Blondeau Sophie Holowacz Agnès Coste Synergistic Effects of Licorice Root and Walnut Leaf Extracts on Gastrointestinal Candidiasis, Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Composition in Mice Microbiology Spectrum candidiasis gut inflammation licorice plant extract prebiotic walnut |
| title | Synergistic Effects of Licorice Root and Walnut Leaf Extracts on Gastrointestinal Candidiasis, Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Composition in Mice |
| title_full | Synergistic Effects of Licorice Root and Walnut Leaf Extracts on Gastrointestinal Candidiasis, Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Composition in Mice |
| title_fullStr | Synergistic Effects of Licorice Root and Walnut Leaf Extracts on Gastrointestinal Candidiasis, Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Composition in Mice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synergistic Effects of Licorice Root and Walnut Leaf Extracts on Gastrointestinal Candidiasis, Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Composition in Mice |
| title_short | Synergistic Effects of Licorice Root and Walnut Leaf Extracts on Gastrointestinal Candidiasis, Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Composition in Mice |
| title_sort | synergistic effects of licorice root and walnut leaf extracts on gastrointestinal candidiasis inflammation and gut microbiota composition in mice |
| topic | candidiasis gut inflammation licorice plant extract prebiotic walnut |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02355-21 |
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