Title : Probiotics and prebiotics: An evolving aspect for better human health
Abstract:
The human body lives in close harmony with a complex ecosystem; diverse microbiota inhabits different areas of the human body, collectively known as microbiota. Especially, gut microbiota which lives with us in a mutually beneficial life-long relationship. Gut microbiota plays a crucial and constructive role in maintaining and improving the host's health through various metabolic activities. These benefits can be enhanced by consuming friendly (probiotic) microorganisms and food (prebiotics) to improve the gut microbiome. The interest in probiotics has emerged constantly due to fascinating scientific shreds of evidence of benefits on human health. Hence, probiotics have been explored to learn about their habitats, beneficial activities, side effects, etc. Probiotics as a treatment modality may restore normal microbiota and functioning of the gastro¬intestinal (GI) tract. Strong scientific evidence is associating these bacteria with the prevention and therapy of various GI disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), lactose intolerance, etc. Recent studies have pointed the link between the gut microbiota and the nervous system, including the brain, which can support treating mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, neurological conditions. Recently, the research going on in our lab is to obtain antimicrobial peptides from Probiotic organisms with lesser or no side effects as an advanced approach for the post-antibiotic era.
In recent years there has been a rapid rise in interest in applying probiotic supplements to act as mediators in health and disease. Probiotics can emerge as an alternative to improve immunity in pandemic situations like COVID19. In light of the ongoing trend of probiotics, further research is needed to obtain potential applications for better health.
