Beneficial Microbes, 2020; 11(6): 547-559 Wageningen Academic Publisher s ISSN 1876-2883 print, ISSN 1876-2891 online, DOI 10.3920/BM2020.0008 547 1. Introduction Oxalate is endogenously produced in the liver and it is absorbed in the intestine from oxalate containing foods (Holmes and Kennedy, 2000; Jaeger and Robertson, 2004). Humans lack enzymes to metabolise this compound, thus intestinal microbiota play a key role in reducing oxalate absorption and consequently urinary excretion (Liebman and Al-Wahsh, 2011; Miller et al., 2019). Hyperoxaluria is a pathological condition associated with an excessive amount of oxalate in urine, and it is the major contributor to oxalate kidney stone formation leading to chronic kidney diseases (Voss et al., 2006). The gut microbiota has acquired a significant influencing position in modulation of imbalance oxalate production/ absorption in individuals predisposed to form kidney stones (Hatch, 2017). The interest in ‘novel bioactive food’ has grown exponentially in the medical field of prevention and treatment of different diseases (Mushtaq et al., 2018). Lactobacilli are members of the gastrointestinal tract microbiome of humans and animals. These bacteria exert a health-promoting activity, controlling the intestinal microbiota and by maintaining its normal state (Orrhage and Nord, 2000). Some studies support the hypothesis to promote lactobacilli as potential candidates to be used in prevention and treatment of enteric hyperoxaluria (Campieri et al., 2001; Lieske, 2017). Oxalobacter formigenes, an oxalate-degrading bacterium, has beneficial effects on oxalate homeostasis (Kaufmann et al., 2008). Colonisation of the intestinal tract Impact of Phyllantus niruri and Lactobacillus amylovorus SGL 14 in a mouse model of dietary hyperoxaluria L. Manna 1 , E. Rizzi 1 , E. Bafile 1 , C. Macchi 2 , M. Ruscica 2 , R. Salini 3 , E. Rossi 3 , C. Panebianco 4 , V. Pazienza 4 and F. Federici 1* 1 Sintal Dietetics s.r.l., Via Tevere 18, 64020 Castelnuovo Vomano, Teramo, Italy; 2 Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20122 Milan, Italy; 3 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale, dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; 4 Unità di Gastroenterologia, IRCCS ‘Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza’ Hospital, Viale dei Cappuccini 1, 71013 San Giovani Rotondo, Foggia, Italy; lab@sintaldietetics.com Received: 15 January 2020 / Accepted: 30 May 2020 © 2020 Wageningen Academic Publishers RESEARCH ARTICLE Abstract Hyperoxaluria is a pathological condition which affects long-term health of kidneys. The present study evaluates the impact of the combination of Lactobacillus amylovorus SGL 14 and the plant extract Phyllantus niruri (namely Phyllantin 14™) on dietary hyperoxaluria. Safety and efficacy of Phyllantin 14 have been evaluated in vivo. Mice C57BL6 fed a high-oxalate diet were compared to mice fed the same diet administered with Phyllantin 14 by gavage for 6 weeks. Control mice were fed a standard diet without oxalate. No adverse effects were associated to Phyllantin 14 supplementation, supporting its safety. Mice fed a high-oxalate diet developed significant hyperoxaluria and those administered with Phyllantin 14 showed a reduced level of urinary oxalate and a lower oxalate-to-creatinine ratio. Soluble and insoluble caecal oxalate were significantly lower in treated group, a finding in agreement with the colonisation study, i.e. mice were colonised with SGL 14 after 3 weeks. Microbiota analysis demonstrated that both oxalate diet and Phyllantin 14 can differently modulate the microbiota. In conclusion, our findings suggest that Phyllantin 14 supplementation represents a potential supportive approach for reducing urinary oxalate and/ or for enhancing the efficacy of existing treatments. Keywords: urinary lithiasis, oxalate, Phillantus niruri, Lactobacillus amylovorus, probiotics https://www.wageningenacademic.com/doi/pdf/10.3920/BM2020.0008 - Sunday, November 29, 2020 8:27:48 AM - Gothenburg University Library IP Address:130.241.16.16