Lucknow:A recent collaborative mini review led by Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, along with his research scholar Vishwas Gaur and Dr. Madhu Kamle, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, together with research collaborators from other institutions, has shed new light on how the human gut microbiota i.e, the vast community of microorganisms living inside our digestive system which plays a central role in regulating metabolic health.
The study, published in the internationally recognized journal Frontiers in Medical Technology (Impact Factor: 3.8, Section: Nano-Based Drug Delivery, Volume 7, 2025), is titled “Microbiome-based therapeutics for metabolic disorders: harnessing microbial intrusions for treatment.” It explores how maintaining a balanced and healthy gut microbiome is crucial to preventing lifestyle-related disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
Understanding Gut Microbes in Simple Terms
The gut microbiota refers to trillions of microscopic organisms mainly bacteria, but also fungi, viruses, and yeasts that naturally live in our intestines. These tiny organisms help digest food, absorb nutrients, produce vitamins, and protect us from harmful germs. When beneficial microbes thrive, they support good digestion, strong immunity, and balanced metabolism.
However, when their balance is disturbed a condition known as dysbiosis it can lead to inflammation, weakened immunity, and diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
How Diet Shapes Gut Health
The review emphasizes that the food we eat directly affects the composition and activity of microbes in our gut. Diets rich in dietary fibers (from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains), prebiotics (natural plant compounds that feed good bacteria), and probiotics (live beneficial bacteria found in foods like yogurt and fermented products) promote the growth of healthy microbes.
These microbes, in turn, perform essential functions such as:
Producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that nourish intestinal cells, Regulating lipid (fat) metabolism, Modulating immune responses, and Maintaining energy balance in the body. Together, these processes ensure metabolic stability and overall well-being.
New Avenues: Microbiome-Based Therapeutics
The review also explores emerging microbiome-based therapies, i.e., new ways of treating diseases by restoring microbial balance. These include: Probiotic supplementation introducing beneficial bacteria through diet or capsules, Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) – transferring healthy microbes from a donor to a patient, and Nano-based microbial delivery systems – using tiny particles to safely and efficiently deliver beneficial microbes or compounds to specific parts of the gut.
Such approaches could become the next generation of treatments for metabolic diseases, relying on natural and biotechnological solutions rather than conventional synthetic drugs.
Dr. Pradeep Kumar emphasized, “Our research underscores the importance of the gut as a central regulator of health. The foods we eat, especially those rich in fibers, prebiotics, and probiotics directly influence microbial diversity, which in turn shapes our metabolism. Harnessing this natural partnership can revolutionize how we prevent and treat metabolic diseases.”
This publication strengthens Lucknow University’s position in cutting-edge biomedical and microbiome research, connecting botany, microbiology, and nanobiotechnology to address modern health challenges through natural and sustainable solutions.
