Food Bioscience 51 (2023) 102325 Available online 24 December 2022 2212-4292/© 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Prophylactic supplementation of microencapsulated Boswellia serrata and probiotic bacteria in metabolic syndrome rats Moetazza M. Alshafei a, * , Ahmed M. Mabrouk b , Emtenan M. Hanaf c , Manal M. Ramadan d , Reda M.S. Korany e , Seham S. Kassem a , Dina Mostafa Mohammed a, ** a Nutrition and Food Science Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt b Dairy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt c Animal Reproduction and AI Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt d Chemistry of Flavor and Aroma Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt e Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt A R T I C L E INFO Keywords: Metabolic syndrome Boswellia serrate Probiotic bacteria Micro-encapsulation Liver steatosis ABSTRACT Metabolic syndrome (MeS) is a major health problem associated with the high prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Boswellia serrata resin (BS) is an old remedy reputed by its rich antioxidant compounds. The present research aimed to assess the impact of microencapsulated BS if given in combination with probiotic bacteria (BAC) (Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus) which had anti-infammatory and antioxidant activities to control the metabolic disorders associated with MeS. Water extract of BS was prepared, total phenolic, total antioxidants and HPLC were analyzed. BS extract was microencapsulated by spray drier and the microcapsules were characterized. BAC were suspended in MRS, cultivated and microencapsulated by freeze drying. Rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups (8/gp). The 1 st group was negative control receiving basic diet (C), the 2 nd group was positive control fed on HFD, the 3 rd group was fed on HFD + BS (400 mg/kg), the 4 th group was fed on HFD + BAC (1 ml containing 10 11 CFU), the 5 th group was fed on HFD + BS + BAC. After 8 weeks animals were sacrifced, the collected serum was analyzed for different biochemical parameters. The body organs and body fat weights were estimated and histopathological and immunohistochemical exam- inations were evaluated. Results showed the ability of BS in controlling most of the parameters related to MeS and improvement of histopathology fndings in organs.BS and BAC acted in synergy in this effect. In conclusion, microencapsulated BS or its combination with Probiotic bacteria may control MeS and both acted as symbiotic in augmenting the improvement of MeS intact model. 1. Introduction Metabolic syndrome is a major health problem that became more prevalent due to increased incidence of obesity around the globe. Obe- sityis associated with diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver disease and complicated cardiovascular disease (Tremmel et al., 2017).The chronic activation of immune system, infammation in adipose tissue results in altered adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, irisin) and increased cytokine (TNF-α,IL-6) (Kalupahana et al., 2012). The excessive intake of nutrients promotes the storage of fat in white adipose tissue (WAT) which lead to the development of obesity. The deposit of lipids in the WAT initially increases its metabolic activity causing oxidative stress and chronic low-grade infammation that de- velops in adipose tissue as a consequence of immune system activation that is ongoing and results in altered adipokines and cytokines (Kalu- pahana et al., 2012). Leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are adipokines that are assumed to have a signifcant role in the relationship between obesity and asso- ciated infammatory illnesses (Tilg & Moschen, 2006). The excess of lipids promotes a continuous increase in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which if not neutralized by intracellular enzymatic mechanisms (i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) or non-enzymatic agents (i.e., reduced glutathione (GSH)), alterations occur at cellular and molecular * Corresponding author. Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, National Research Center, El Bohouth Street, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. ** Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: Moetazza1_alshafei@yahoo.com (M.M. Alshafei), dina_ganna@yahoo.com (D.M. Mohammed). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Food Bioscience journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/fbio https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2022.102325 Received 21 October 2022; Received in revised form 9 December 2022; Accepted 20 December 2022