Effect of dietary supplementation of Fructobacillus fructosus MCC 3996 on body weight, serum lipid and liver histopathology of high‑fat diet-fed swiss albino mice

Oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and obesity are the major risk factors of cardiovascular disease. In this study, fructophilic Fructobacillus fructosus MCC 3996 with proven probiotic potential was assessed for in vitro antioxidant and cholesterol assimilation capabilities, and anti-hyperlipidemic effect in mice model. The mice were equally distributed in different groups, viz ., control diet (CD), high-fat diet (HFD), high fat diet with F. fructosus (HFDFF) and a high-fat diet with gemfibrozil (HFDGM), and fed accordingly for 12 weeks. The weight gain, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoproteins (HDL), liver function biomarkers and liver histopathology were analysed. At the end of trial, F. fructosus supplemented mice group showed significant reduction in HFD-induced weight gain, the levels of serum TC, TG, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). No significant changes were recorded in HDL and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels between all the groups. Besides this, in vitro studies showed that, F. fructosus was able to assimilate 52 % cholesterol at 48 h and showed 65 % 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 53 % 2, 2 azino-bis 3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities. In conclusion, Fructophilic F. fructosus could be useful probiotic candidate in the management of dyslipidemia, and weight gain. • Fructobacillus fructosus was able to assimilate 52 % cholesterol at 48 h. • F. fructosus showed 65 % DPPH and 53 % ABTS radical scavenging. • F. fructosus lowered weight gain, serum TC, and TG in vivo in HFD fed mice. • F. fructosus reduced liver enzyme AST in a HFD fed mice model.