Anti‑obesity Effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZNFL-1 by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Lipid Metabolism in High‑Fat Diet‑Induced Mice.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, one of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB), has shown numerous probiotic properties and health benefits to humans, particularly in the fight against obesity. Identification and characterization of effective L. plantarum strains and understanding their health effects are essential for developing effective probiotic-based therapies for chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes. By screening various environmental samples, 17 L. plantarum strains were isolated. The acid and bile salt tolerance, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production, cholesterol-lowering effect, and antioxidant performance of these L. plantarum strains were evaluated. The health effects of L. plantarum ZNFL-1 were assessed in high-fat diet-feeding mice by monitoring mice weight gain, adipose tissue, blood glucose, and lipid, and investigating the changes of the mice gut microbiota. The representative L. plantarum strain ZNFL-1 exhibited significant tolerance to acid and bile salts. Its supplementation significantly reduced cholesterol levels and exhibited antioxidant properties. In high-fat diet-feeding mice, L. plantarum ZNFL-1 intervention, especially at higher doses, reduced body weight gain, inhibited adipose tissue accumulation, and improved gut microbiota dysbiosis. This study identified L. plantarum ZNFL-1, which has notable anti-obesity effects in mice fed with a high-fat diet. These anti-obesity effects were achieved by increasing levels of beneficial bacteria and decreasing potentially harmful ones. Additionally, L. plantarum ZNFL-1 alleviated dysbiosis induced by a high-fat diet and improved symptoms associated with obesity by regulating lipid metabolism.