Neuroprotective effect of Bacillus subtilis in haloperidol induced rat model, targeting the microbiota-gut-brain axis

Monalisa Rout1, Durga Madhab Kar1, Debasmita Dubey2

  • 1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, India.

PubMed

Insights

Probiotics, specifically Bacillus subtilis, show promise in treating Parkinson's disease by improving motor function and reducing neuroinflammation. This study highlights the gut-brain axis as a key target for novel Parkinson's disease therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Microbiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Parkinson's disease (PD) is increasingly linked to gut microbiome dysbiosis.
  • The therapeutic mechanisms of probiotics (PBT) in PD, particularly their antioxidant effects via the gut-brain axis, remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the antioxidant impact and mechanism of Bacillus subtilis (PBT) on a haloperidol-induced Parkinson's disease rat model.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of PBT in conjunction with L-DOPA in mitigating PD symptoms and underlying pathology.

Main Methods:

  • Establishment of a PD rat model using haloperidol (HAL) injection.
  • Assessment of motor function through neurobehavioral tests.
  • Measurement of alpha-synuclein aggregation, monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity, dopaminergic neuron integrity, oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase), and gut microbial composition.

Main Results:

  • Co-administration of PBT and L-DOPA alleviated motor deficits, protected dopaminergic neurons, and reduced alpha-synuclein buildup in HAL-treated rats.
  • PBT treatment increased superoxide dismutase and dopamine levels while decreasing alpha-synuclein, MAO-B, and malondialdehyde.
  • PBT modulated gut microbiota, increasing beneficial Bifidobacterium and decreasing E. coli, thereby reducing gut microbial dysbiosis.

Conclusions:

  • Bacillus subtilis (PBT) demonstrates significant neuroprotective and antioxidant effects in a Parkinson's disease model.
  • PBT, by targeting the gut-brain axis and restoring microbial balance, may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for inhibiting Parkinson's disease progression.

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