Abstract:
Probiotics have been shown to promote the endogenous host defense mechanisms by stabilization of the gut microflora. In this study, LP-3G3 chocolate, a locally- formulated milk chocolate drink containing 106 to 107 cfu/mL of Lactobacillus pentosus 3G3 was orally administered to obese and non-obese mice (Mus musculus L., BALB/C strain). The gut microbial diversity of obese and non-obese mice treated with LP-3G3 chocolate, and of obese mice treated with Orlistat (Xenical®) were determined and compared before and after treatment, using the culture-independent technique called PCR-DGGE. Results show that the microflora of obese mice is more diverse (44.48% similarity) than that of non-obese mice (53.77% similarity). The similarity between male and female were also compared among obese and non-obese mice treated with LP-3G3 chocolate mice. Obese male and female mice treated with LP-3G3 chocolate are less diverse (53.8% similarity) than non-obese male and female given the same treatment (42.9%). On the other hand, untreated male and female mice, as well as Orlistat-treated subjects showed relatively high similarities. The results indicate that the LP-3G3 chocolate treatment is capable of altering the gut microbial diversity of obese and non-obese mice. Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), such as Lactobacilluspentosus, are capable of producing bacteriocin which inhibits the presence of other bacterial species present in the gut of mice; hence may have influenced the lowering of microbial diversity. Untreated male and female mice, as well as Orlistat-treated subjects showed relatively high similarities which imply that Orlistat-treatment do not necessarily vary the gut microflora while effecting weight reduction.
