Effect of Medicinal Plant Extract on Gut Beneficial Bacteria

The present study explored the prebiotic potential of Ocimum sanctum, Zingiber officinale and Piper nigrum, which are extensively used in Ayurveda for treating immune inflammatory diseases. The Objective of the study was to test the prebiotic potential of Ocimum sanctum, Zingiber officinale and Piper nigrum using gut beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium (Bifidobacterium infantis). Preliminary phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity and HPLC analysis was carried out on the extracts of Ocimum sanctum, Zingiber officinale and Piper nigrumto determine the presence of active compounds. Prebiotic potential was carried out using Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium bacteria by standard plate count method. Fructo-oligosaccharide was the standard prebiotic. In the study preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and phenolic compounds. O. sanctum, Z. officinale and P. nigrum showed a modest antioxidant activity when compared with ascorbic acid. O. sanctum, Z. officinale showed prebiotic activity at 2.5 ppm concentration with abundant growth of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, whereas P. nigrum showed enhanced growth of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria at much higher concentration (25.0 ppm) similarly to Fructo-oligosaccharide. The study concluded that the prebiotic activity of these herbs could be due to the presence of phytochemicals. Prebiotic potential of these herbs may be exploited to regulate gut bacteria, which in turn will prevent systemic inflammation and associated disorders.