Lactobacillus Plantarum

Lactobacillus plantarum is one of the most versatile probiotic species — found in fermented foods (kimchi, sauerkraut, sourdough), the human gut, and the vaginal microbiome. It has the largest genome among Lactobacillus species (~3.3 Mb), encoding extensive stress tolerance, metabolic flexibility, and antimicrobial peptide (plantaricin) production.

Notable Features

  • Heavy metal binding: L. plantarum can biosorb cadmium, lead, and arsenic from the gut lumen, reducing systemic metal absorption — a bioremediation function relevant to metal-exposed populations [1].
  • MS: Component of probiotic formulations showing immunomodulatory effects in MS [2].
  • Schizophrenia: Part of synbiotic formulation for metabolic syndrome in schizophrenia RCT [3].
  • Thyroid: Discussed in gut microbiota-thyroid axis [4].
  • Male fertility: Part of probiotic interventions for reproductive health [5].

Cross-References

References (5)

  1. Feng P, Yang J, Zhao S et al. (2022). Feng 2022 — Human supplementation with Pediococcus acidilactici GR-1 decreases heavy metal levels through modifying the gut microbiota and metabolome. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes. doi:10.1038/s41522-022-00326-8
  2. Mohammad Morshedi, Reza Hashemi, Sara Moazzen et al. (2019). Morshedi 2019 — Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of probiotics in multiple sclerosis: systematic review. Journal of Neuroinflammation. doi:10.1186/s12974-019-1611-4
  3. Basafa-Roodi P, Jazayeri S, Hadi F et al. (2024). Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on the Components of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. BMC Psychiatry. doi:10.1186/s12888-024-06061-y
  4. Bao K, Lin H, Guo S (2025). Gut Microbiota and Thyroid Diseases: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. X-Disciplinarity
  5. Shuya Lv, Jingrong Huang, Yadan Luo et al. (2024). Lv 2024 — Gut Microbiota Is Involved in Male Reproductive Function: A Review. Frontiers in Microbiology. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2024.1371667

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