Constipation, a prevalent gastrointestinal ailment, primarily responds to medications like lubricating or stimulant laxatives;however, these treatments are often costly and accompanied by a risk of dependency.Consequently, there is a pressing demand for a viable alternative.Amidst the growing global focus on probiotics and their impact on human health, supplementing with probiotics has emerged as a significant therapeutic approach for constipation, aiming to harmonize intestinal flora and ultimately alleviate symptoms.Moreover, dark tea, renowned as the “purifier” of the digestive system, boasts an abundance of functional components like dietary fiber, polysaccharides, and vitamins.These elements collectively contribute to enhancing gastrointestinal motility, facilitating digestion, promoting urination, and acting as a natural laxative.Thus, dark tea presents itself as a promising adjunct in the quest for effective constipation management. In this study, two probiotic-infused dark teas, designated as BC and KC, were meticulously crafted by blending dark tea with laboratory-cultured Lactobacillus plantarum BC299 and commercially available probiotic formulations.Additionally, two distinct probiotic-fermented dark teas, BFC and KFC, were produced using dark tea through a fermentation process by BC299 or commercial probiotics.The primary objective of this investigation was to delve into the synergistic effects of dark tea, both in its original form and when combined with probiotics, on alleviating constipation induced by loperamide hydrochloride in mice models.By analyzing these formulations, this study aimed to uncover potential therapeutic benefits and further the understanding of the interplay between traditional teas and modern probiotics in constipation.The findings revealed that the integration of probiotic dark tea and probiotic-fermented dark tea exhibited marked efficacy in enhancing the fecal water content and elevating the small intestinal transit rate among constipated mice.Furthermore, it significantly shortened the time to the first black stool expulsion in these animals.Notably, the combination also augmented the serum levels of motilin (MTL), gastrin (GAS), and tachykinin substance P (SP) in constipated mice, indicating a positive modulation of gut motility and digestive hormone profiles.Concurrently, the fusion of probiotics and dark tea effectively addressed the harm inflicted on small intestinal tissue by constipation, prominently diminishing the concentration of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β within the intestinal tissue.Moreover, this combination promoted a favorable inflammatory balance by augmenting the levels of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10.Among the various formulations tested, the comprehensive assessment revealed that the probiotics-infused dark tea BC demonstrated the most pronounced efficacy in ameliorating constipation.Insights gained from 16S rDNA sequencing further illuminated that the integration of probiotics and dark tea was capable of reshaping the intestinal microbiota landscape, notably augmenting the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio within the gut of constipated mice.This shift was particularly evident in the proliferation of Lactobacillus, underscoring the potential of this combination in fostering a favorable gut microbial ecosystem.In conclusion, the synergize of probiotics with dark tea emerged as an effective strategy for mitigating loperamide hydrochloride-induced constipation in mice.This combined approach not only repaired intestinal barrier impairments but also exerted a modulatory influence on the composition and architecture of the intestinal microbiota, thereby contributing to a healthier gut environment.This study offers a novel research perspective and serves as a pivotal reference, not only broadening the horizons of probiotics research but also pioneering the development of innovative functional foods aimed at intervening in and mitigating constipation, thereby contributing significantly to the advancement of this field.
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