Managing colonic inflammation associated gut derangements by systematically optimised and targeted ginger extract-Lactobacillus acidophilus loaded pharmacobiotic alginate beads.

Presently, we explore a cobiotic-ginger extract (GE; antioxidant-antiinflammatory) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (LAB, probiotic), for control of oxidative-stress, inflammation and dysbiosis mediated gut ailments. Since orally administered LAB looses viability while GE is a gastric irritant with poor ADME, we encapsulated them into calcium-alginate beads. Water-loving, viscolysing, and osmotic-building effects of polyethylene glycol were used to address poor probiotic encapsulation (≤10%) by effective sealing of numerous fine voids formed in the alginate gel. Beads were systematically optimized for maximum entrapment (92±2.3% for GE, and 30±1.2% for LAB) and sustained release, and were coated with eudragit-S100 for colonic-targetability, as established by in-vitro release. In-vivo evaluation in DMH-DSS induced colitis and precancerous lesions, in rats, indicated attenuation of oxidative stress (catalase, SOD, LPO) and inflammatory burden (IL-6 and TNF-α), and downregulation of COX-2, iNOS, and c-Myc by both GE and LAB; restoration of colonic permeability by GE; and modulation of gut bacteria and SCFAs by LAB as the mechanisms of action. Complementing activities of GE and LAB in cobiotic beads lead to better reversals. Histology (H&E and toluidine blue) confirmed healing of precancerous lesions.