Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) producing lactic acid bacteria have been claimed to confer various health benefits to the host, including the ability to face oxidative and inflammatory-related stress. This study investigated the ability of food-borne Lactiplantibacillus (Lpb.) plantarum to improve the antioxidant activity of fermented milks by producing EPSs. Two Lpb. plantarum strains, selected as lower and higher EPSs producers, have been applied in lab-scale fermented milk production, in combination with conventional starters. Antioxidant activity was investigated in vitro using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assays while the ability to modulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was evaluated in an intestinal healthy model, subjected to both oxidative and inflammatory stress. Furthermore, to verify whether digestion affects functionality, fermented milks were evaluated before and after in vitro-simulated INFOGEST digestion. The results showed an improved antioxidant activity of fermented milk enriched with Lpb. plantarum LT100, the highest EPSs producer. Furthermore, the data showed a different ROS modulation with a protective anti-inflammatory effect of samples enriched with Lpb. plantarum strains. Our data suggest the use of selected EPS-producing strains of Lpb. plantarum as a natural strategy to enrich the functionality of fermented milks in terms of ROS modulation and inflammatory-related stress.

Background/Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses several neurodevelopmental disorders, whose onset is correlated to genetic and environmental factors. Although the etiopathogenesis is not entirely clear, the involvement of inflammatory processes, the endocannabinoid system, and alterations in the permeability and composition of the intestinal microbiota are known to occur. Methods: This review systematically explores the literature available to date on the most widely used murine models for the study of ASD, the main biomarkers investigated for the diagnosis of ASD, and the therapeutic potential of probiotics, with a particular focus on the use of strains of Lactiplantibacillus (Lpb.) plantarum in in vivo models and clinical trials for ASD. Results: Several studies have demonstrated that targeting multifactorial biomarkers in animal models and patients contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying ASD. Moreover, accumulating evidence supports the beneficial effect of probiotics, including Lpb. plantarum, as a promising alternative therapeutic strategy, capable of modulating gut–brain axis communication. Conclusions: Probiotic supplementation, particularly with selected Lpb. plantarum strains, is emerging as a potential complementary approach for ameliorating ASD-related gastrointestinal and behavioral symptoms. However, further large-scale clinical studies are essential to validate their efficacy and determine optimal treatment protocols and dietary strategies.

Social difficulties in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including reduced sensitivity and responsiveness to the rewarding value of social stimuli (social anhedonia), may arise from dysregulation of dopaminergic and endocannabinoid (eCB) pathways. We examined whether social reward processing was restored in male and female rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid (VPA) by PPARαs activation which modulates dopaminergic and eCB transmission. After 4-week administration of the PPARα agonist fenofibrate (FBR), social interaction and social reward sensitivity were assessed, and levels of eCBs and related markers measured in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). In VPA-exposed male rats, FBR administration reinstated social behavior, increased N-palmitoyl ethanolamine (PEA) levels in the NAc and normalized fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) levels in the NAc and mPFC. In contrast, VPA-exposed female rats showed very subtle ASD-like social deficits, different patterns of eCB alterations, with decreased N-oleoyl ethanolamine (OEA) levels in both regions, and divergent responses to FBR. Overall, these findings suggest that FBR modulation of the eCB system contribute to improving social behavior in VPA-exposed male rats. Moreover, differences in eCB signaling in male and female rats may play a role in the development of sex-divergent phenotype following prenatal VPA exposure.