Lactobacillus fermentum MCC2760 Attenuates Heated Oil‐Induced Brain Oxidative Stress and Inflammation via Modulation of NRF2 and NF‐kB in Rats

Scope Reusing deep‐fried oil is a common practice to cut costs, and their consumption may affect brain function. Hence, the study investigates the modulatory potential of Lactobacillus fermentum MCC2760 (LF) on heated oil‐induced brain oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation that may have a bearing on cognition in experimental rats. Methods and results Female Wistar rats are fed with diets containing native sunflower oil (N‐SFO), native canola oil (N‐CNO), heated sunflower oil (H‐SFO), heated canola oil (H‐CNO), heated sunflower oil with probiotic (H‐SFO + LF), or heated canola oil with probiotic (H‐CNO + LF} for 60 days. Compared to respective controls, heated oils significantly ( p < 0.05) increased OS by decreasing antioxidant defense enzymes and nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (NRF2) activity. Further, heated oil elevates brain expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA 2 ), cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), prostaglandin‐E receptor 4 (EP‐4), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1), nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS‐2), followed by an increased production of proinflammatory eicosanoids (prostaglandin E2 [PGE 2 ] and leukotriene B4 [LTB 4 ]) and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor‐α [TNF‐α], monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 [MCP‐1], interleukin‐1β [IL‐1β], and interleukin‐6 [IL‐6]). The increased nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa beta (NF‐kB) in heated oil‐fed groups’ brains corroborates the heightened inflammatory response. Heated oils decrease neurotrophins and neuron development markers. However, administration of LF abrogates the heated oil‐induced alterations significantly ( p < 0.05). Conclusions The present study is novel in demonstrating the protective role of probiotic LF against heated‐oil‐induced brain OS and inflammation in rats.