Poria cocos polysaccharide enhances the persistence and anti-colitic efficacy of three-strain probiotic preparation in DSS-induced colitis in mice

Introduction Probiotic supplementation is limited within the gut. This study aimed to screen potential prebiotic candidates that promotes the gastrointestinal persistence of probiotics from plant polysaccharides, and evaluate its potentiation on probiotics in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment. Methods The effects of natural polysaccharides on the intestinal survival of Golden Bifid (GB, a three-strain probiotic preparation including Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus , and Streptococcus thermophilus ) were investigated through in vitro proliferation assay, stress resistance analysis, and fecal abundance determination in mice. The anti-colitic effect of GB and prebiotic candidate in IBD were evaluated in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) -induced colitis in wild-type mice and antibiotic-treated (ABX) mice. Results Poria cocos polysaccharide (PcP) significantly promoted the proliferation of B. longum, L. bulgaricus , and S. thermophilus , and improved their tolerance to gastric and intestinal juice, and bile salts. After co-administration with PcP, their abundance in feces was increased, and their decline in fecal abundance after withdrawal was delayed. Importantly, the combined use of PcP significantly enhanced the anti-colitic effect of GB on colitis. Furthermore, in ABX mice, PcP alone failed to alleviate colitis, but still enhanced the anti-colitic effect of GB. Discussion PcP promotes the intestinal persistence of probiotics, thereby enhancing their intestinal protective effects. This study provides a novel application for improving the anti-colitic efficacy of probiotics by combination with PcP.