Isolation and characterization of a novel exopolysaccharide from the fermented probiotic <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> ZZU-1 and its application for attenuating autism-like behaviors.

Overview

1. School of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
2. College of International Education, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, Henan, China

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria-derived exopolysaccharides (EPS) are natural and safe functional biomolecules whose antioxidant potential is largely dependent on their specific chemical structures. Accumulating evidence suggests that LAB-EPS may exert indirect regulatory effects on oxidative stress-related diseases like autism spectrum disorder via modulating intestinal microecology and relieving oxidative stress in the gut-brain axis. In this study, a novel EPS (EPS-ZZU) was isolated from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZZU-1 of traditional fermented Suancai. Structural characterization revealed a 2.141 kDa molecular weight, with mannose, glucose and ribose in a 34.40:26.35:12.24 molar ratio, composed of α-configuration pyranose units. EPS-ZZU exhibited over 90% scavenging rates against the typical free radicals, including hydroxyl radical (⋅OH), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH•), superoxide anion (O2•⁣–) and 2,2’-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) cation radical (ABTS•+) at a concentration of 5 mg/mL, which was comparable to that of vitamin C (Vc). In a one-month mouse trial, EPS-ZZU significantly alleviated autism-like behaviors (social deficits, repetitive actions) by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, enhancing intestinal barrier integrity, and reshaping gut microbiota-enriching beneficial taxa (Adlercreutzia, Christensenellaceae) and inhibiting pathogens (Erysipelatoclostridium). Metabolomics confirmed upregulated indole-3-acetate and downregulated cognitive impairment-associated metabolites (asymmetric dimethylarginine, homogentisic acid). These findings highlight EPS-ZZU’s therapeutic potential for autism and provide a new idea for developing more bioactive bacterial EPS antioxidants.

Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.

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Data

Data links

• ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/1307800 — NCBI; found in “Data availability statement”

Data availability statement

16s RNA sequencing of strain ZZU-1 was deposited in NCBI under the accession number PV945894, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/search/all/?term=PV945894.1. Raw gut microbiota sequencing data have been deposited in the NCBI Sequence Read Archive under accession number PRJNA1307800, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/1307800. The raw gut microbiota-related metabolomics data have been deposited in MetaboLights under the accession number MTBLS3662, https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ebisearch/search?db=allebi&sortignorenull=true&query=MTBLS3662.

Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.

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Version 2, 28 September 2026

• Funding: added National Natural Science Foundation of China: 32501355, 32500089; Henan University of Technology: 2022BS065; Henan University; Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province

Version 1, 27 September 2026: the first record

Recorded: type, language, journal, volume, pages, dates, 9 authors, 5 keywords, 89 references.

Cite

This paper

Zhao, S., Sun, M., Li, H., Wang, Z., Meng, Z., Xu, Y., Mao, S., Wang, W., & Sun, H. (2026). Isolation and characterization of a novel exopolysaccharide from the fermented probiotic <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> ZZU-1 and its application for attenuating autism-like behaviors. Frontiers in microbiology, 17, 1806688. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1806688

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