Neuroprotective effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp39-fermented milk in a murine model of depression and anxiety

Dec 8, 2025Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Brain-protecting effects of milk fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp39 in mice with depression and anxiety

AI simplified

Gut-Brain Axis on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Milk fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp39 may improve mood and reduce anxiety in a mouse model.

The fermented milk exhibited anxiolytic-like effects in behavioral tests, including the light-dark box and open field tests.
Antidepressant-like effects were demonstrated through increased sucrose preference and performance in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests.
FM administration significantly decreased oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation while enhancing antioxidant activity in the hippocampus.
Increased levels of IL-10 and inhibition of lipoxygenase were observed in animals treated with fermented milk.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the hippocampus increased significantly, correlating with behavioral and biomarker outcomes.
Consumption of fermented milk did not adversely affect gut microbiota composition, with stable microbiota and changes in specific bacterial populations.

AI simplified

Depression and anxiety are common mental health disorders that can significantly impair quality of life. In recent years, functional foods, particularly fermented milk products, have gained attention as potential complementary therapies. Rich in probiotics and bioactive compounds, these products may help modulate the gut-brain axis, thereby improving mood and alleviating symptoms, supporting mental well-being. Hence, the potential antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of milk fermented (FM) with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp39 were evaluated in a murine model. The antidepressant-like effect was assessed using unconditional behavioral tests, including the tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST), and sucrose preference test (SP). The anxiolytic-like effect was evaluated using the elevated plus maze (EPM), the light-dark box (LD), and the open field test (OFT). Additionally, oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers were determined in the liver, plasma and hippocampus. Gut microbiota composition was also analyzed. The anxiolytic-like effect was evidenced by the OFT and LD tests. The antidepressant-like effect was demonstrated by TST and FST, along with an increased sucrose preference. FM administration significantly reduced the oxidative stress index and lipidic peroxidation and enhanced antioxidant activity in the hippocampus. Elevated IL-10 levels and lipoxygenase inhibition were observed in FM-treated animals. BNDF levels in the hippocampus were also significantly increased, and correlations were found between BNDF, oxidative stress index, IL-10, and TNF-α with SP outcomes, as well as between MDA and TNF with TST. The gut microbiota remained stable following FM consumption, while reduced Helicobacter and increased Lactobacillus populations. Weak correlations were observed between the presence of Mycoplasmataceae, Propionibacteriaceae, and Deferribacteriaceae and unconditional behavioral tests, oxidative and inflammation biomarkers. Our findings suggest that FM with Lpb. plantarum Lp39 may exert beneficial antidepressant and anxiolytic effects through neurotrophic support, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms, without adversely affecting the gut microbiota and possibly contribute to a neuroprotective effect within the gut-brain axis.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text (XML) ↗View full text ↗

Neuroprotective effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp39-fermented milk in a murine model of depression and anxiety

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the gut-brain axis brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the gut-brain axis brief