Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is one of the most abundant commensals of gut microbiota that is not commonly administered as a probiotic supplement. Being one of the gut's major butyrate-producing bacteria, its clinical significance and uses are on the rise and it has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and gut microbiota-modulating properties in the treatment of inflammatory bowel illness, Crohn's disease, and colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a silent killer disease that has become one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-tumorigenic and antiproliferative role of F. prausnitzii as well as to study its effects on the diversity of gut microbiota in rats. Findings showed that F. prausnitzii probiotic significantly reduced the colonic aberrant crypt foci frequency and formation in Azoxymethane (AOM)-induced CRC in rats. In addition, the administration of F. prausnitzii lowered the lipid peroxidation levels in the colon tissues. For in vitro 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the cell-free supernatant of F. prausnitzii suppressed the growth of HCT116 colorectal cancer cells in a time/dose-dependent manner. 16S rRNA gene sequencing using rat stool samples showed that the administration of F. prausnitzii modulated the gut microbiota of the rats and enhanced its diversity. Hence, these findings suggest that F. prausnitzii as a probiotic supplement can be used in CRC prevention and management; however, more studies are warranted to understand its cellular and molecular mechanisms of action.
Keywords: Faecalibacterium prausnitzii; colorectal cancer; gut microbiota; oxidative stress; probiotics.