Probiotic <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> subsp. <i>plantarum</i> Dad-13 Alleviates 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid-Induced Colitis Through Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production and Inflammatory Cytokine Regulation

The development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is closely linked to inflammatory damage and dysbiosis. Recently, probiotics are being increasingly used to improve intestinal health. Probiotic-based therapies can prevent IBD by restoring the balance of gastrointestinal microbiota, reducing gut inflammation, and increasing the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> subsp. <i>plantarum</i> Dad-13, a novel probiotic strain derived from dadih (Indonesian curd from buffalo milk), on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in BALB/c mice. The results showed that probiotic Dad-13 supplementation at a dose of 10⁷ or 10⁹ CFU/mL improved the clinical symptoms of IBD and enhanced the production of SCFAs, particularly propionate and butyrate. Moreover, probiotic Dad-13 supplementation significantly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β] and significantly increased the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10). These findings show that <i>L. plantarum</i> Dad-13 can effectively prevent TNBS-induced colitis by modulating SCFA production and inflammatory cytokines.