Bacillus coagulans 198 and L-glutamine in combination attenuated intestinal mucositis in a 5-FU-induced BALB/c mouse model via modulation of gut microbial community structure and diversity

Wei-Jen Chen^a,b, Siou-Ru Shen^a, Wei-Hsuan Hsu^c, Bao-Hong Lee^d, Yu-Shan Wei^a, Hui-Fang Chu^a, Ming-Chung Tseng^a, Tang-Long Shen^e,f*

^a Research and Development Department, Syngen Biotech Co., Ltd., Tainan, Taiwan

^b Graduate Institute of Management, Minghsin University of Science and Technology , Hsinchu, Taiwan

^c Department of Food Safety/Hygiene and Risk Management, College of Medicine , National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

^d Department of Horticultural Science, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan

^e Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University , Taipei, Taiwan

^f Center for Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) disrupts intestinal cells and causes dysbiosis in the gut microbiota. This study explores the potential of Bacillus coagulans-198 (BC198) to mitigate gut microbiota imbalance and mucositis caused by 5-fluorouracil. L-glutamine is used to alleviate mucositis, and this study found that BC198 exhibits protective effects on the gut, including maintaining a healthy microbiota and reducing intestinal inflammation, regardless of whether L-glutamine is used in combination. Therefore, it can help reduce the deterioration of the gut environment caused by 5-fluorouracil. BC198 can be provided to cancer patients to prevent severe side effects, thereby improving their treatment outcomes and nutritional status.

Keywords: Bacillus coagulans-198 (BC198), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) , Intestinal inflammation, Microbiota, Mucositis