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Objectives To test the effects of a novel product combining probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12), a prebiotic (bacteriophage blend), and a postbiotic (tributyrin), and its individual components, on intestinal permeability in an in vitro gut barrier model. Methods Short term colonic incubation was performed for the individual components, the full product, and a blank control under conditions representative of the proximal large intestine, using the fecal microbiota of a single healthy human donor. Colonic batch suspensions were collected after 48 hours of incubation and filter sterilized. Caco-2 cell monolayers were placed on top of PMA-differentiated THP1-BlueTM cells, creating an in vitro model of intestinal barrier disruption. Colonic fermentation samples were diluted in complete medium and given apically to Caco-2/THP1-BlueTM co-cultures for 24 hours. Intestinal permeability was assessed with transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). TEER was measured in Caco-2 monolayers at baseline and 24 hours after pre-treatment of Caco-2/THP-1 BlueTM co-cultures. Each final TEER value was normalized to its corresponding initial value. Results Application of colonic suspensions from the combination of pre-, pro-, and postbiotics significantly increased TEER values compared to control (p < 0.05). Probiotics and tributyrin were also found to increase TEER (p < 0.05) but no significant effect was observed for prebiotic phages (p > 0.05). Conclusions Colonic batch fermentations of a novel combination of pre-, pro-, and postbiotics showed improved gut barrier function in vitro, indicated by increased TEER values. Results suggest that probiotic strains and tributyrin likely modulate these effects, consistent with previous research linking the probiotic LGG and short chain fatty acid butyrate to gut barrier protection. Funding Sources The study was conducted by an independent lab, ProDigest, and funded and sponsored by Ritual (Natals, Inc.). Compound Solutions, Inc. also financially supported the study.

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One of the most common causes of joint pain and impairment is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects people all over the world. Osteoarthritis is the second most prevalent and commonly diagnosed rheumatologic disease in India, with a prevalence of 22 to 39 %. Prior to the discovery of extraction and synthetic chemistry, musculoskeletal diseases were treated using medicinal plant compositions. When non-pharmacological therapy is insufficient, a variety of pharmacological therapies can be used to treat arthritis. Synthetic medication therapy, on the other hand, may have undesirable side effects and be expensive. As a result, researchers have been looking at alternative therapies. Herbal drugs have demonstrated the ability to control arthritis in a safe and effective manner. In this review, the safety and efficacy traditionally used plants and main chemical constituents to treat osteoarthritis are reported. After reviewing online databases, we found herbs used to treat osteoarthritis such as Boswellia serrata, Alpinia galanga, Commiphora wightii, Harpagophytum procumbens, Salix alba, Ribes nigrum L., Filipendula ulmaria, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Capsicum annum, Urtica dioica L., Vitex negundo L., Syzygium aromaticum L. and Allium sativum L. These species are attributed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which helped to reduce inflammation and tissue damage. The efficacy and safety of herbal medications for osteoarthritis symptoms are discussed here.

Objectives To test the effect of probiotic strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12), a prebiotic (bacteriophage blend), and a postbiotic (tributyrin) on the human intestinal microbiota in vitro. Methods Short term colonic incubation was performed under conditions representative of the proximal large intestine, using the fecal microbiota of a single healthy human donor. At the start of the experiment, treatments and a blank control were added to the reactors. Each reactor also received a carbohydrate-supplemented nutritional medium and freshly prepared fecal inoculum. Reactors were closed with a rubber septum, made anaerobic through flushing with nitrogen, and incubated for 48 hours. Each condition was run in triplicate. Changes in microbial community composition were determined via 16S-targeted Illumina sequencing and flow cytometry. Enriched bacterial genera were identified using LEfSe (LDA > 2, p < 0.05). Results A significant increase in alpha-diversity was observed by 48h compared to the control. LEfSe revealed that community shifts were attributed to a wide range of bacterial genera including Gemmiger, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Eubacterium, Oscillibacter, and Holdemanella at 24h and of genera such as Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Muribaculum, and Holdemanella at 48h. LGG and BB-12 were not detected in the donor microbiota originally but abundance of both was higher after incubation. Conclusions The results from this study suggest that a combination of pre-, pro-, and postbiotics modulates gut microbiota by increasing microbial diversity and the relative abundance of a number of bacterial genera. An increase in the abundance of LGG and BB-12 indicates growth of these strains in the presence of a human gut microbiota. Future human clinical studies are needed to further investigate the observed effects. Funding Sources The study was conducted by an independent lab, ProDigest, and funded and sponsored by Ritual (Natals, Inc.). Compound Solutions, Inc. also financially supported the study.