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Association of Lactobacillus crispatus with fructo-oligosaccharides and ascorbic acid in hydroxypropyl methylcellulose vaginal insert.

  • 2016-01
  • Carbohydrate Polymers 136
    • B. Vitali
    • A. Abruzzo
    • C. Parolin
    • R. A. Ñ. Palomino
    • F. Dalena
    • F. Bigucci
    • T. Cerchiara
    • B. Luppi

Abstract

The aim of this work was to develop a synbiotic vaginal insert containing the probiotic strain Lactobacillus crispatus BC5, the prebiotic substrate fructo-oligosaccharide and the antioxidant agent ascorbic acid, for the prophylaxis and therapy of vaginal infections. Mucoadhesive in situ gelling vaginal inserts based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose were prepared by freeze-drying, stored at +2-8 °C for 90 days and characterized in terms of technological and functional properties. Complete survival of L. crispatus BC5 was found immediately after insert preparation (96.08%) as well as after 90 days of storage (95.82%) in the vaginal inserts containing fructo-oligosaccharide, ascorbic acid and skimmed milk. Synbiotic inserts showed improved mucoadhesion ability (from three- to five-fold) with respect to a standard formulation based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose alone. Moreover, inserts allowed to modulate lactobacilli release in virtue of the different amounts of fructo-oligosaccharide. Finally, antimicrobial activity was exerted by L. crispatus BC5 released from the vaginal formulation.

Keywords: Ascorbic acid; Fructo-oligosaccharide; In situ gelling inserts; Lactobacillus crispatus; Mucoadhesion; Vaginal release.

Research Insights

SupplementHealth OutcomeEffect TypeEffect Size
Lactobacillus crispatusEnhanced Antimicrobial ResistanceBeneficial
Moderate
Lactobacillus crispatusImproved MucoadhesionBeneficial
Moderate
Lactobacillus crispatusIncreased Lactobacilli ReleaseBeneficial
Moderate
Lactobacillus crispatus LV5 88Enhanced Antimicrobial ResistanceBeneficial
Moderate
Lactobacillus crispatus LV5 88Improved MucoadhesionBeneficial
Moderate
Lactobacillus crispatus LV5 88Improved Survival of Vaginal MicrobiotaBeneficial
Large
Lactobacillus crispatus LV5 88Increased Lactobacilli ReleaseBeneficial
Moderate
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