Modulation of Gut Microbiome in Ecstasy/MDMA-Induced Behavioral and Biochemical Impairment in Rats and Potential of Post-Treatment with Anacyclus pyrethrum L. Aqueous Extract to Mitigate Adverse Effects International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Abstract The use of illicit substances continues to pose a substantial threat to global health, affecting millions of individuals annually. Evidence suggests the existence of a ‘brain–gut axis’ as the involving connection between the central nervous system and gut microbiome (GM). Dysbiosis of the GM has been associated with the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases, including metabolic, malignant, and inflammatory conditions. However, little is currently known about the involvement of this axis in modulating the GM in response to psychoactive substances. In this study, we investigated the effect of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, “Ecstasy”)-dependence on the behavioral and biochemical responses, and the diversity and abundance of the gut microbiome in rats post-treated (or not) with aqueous extract of Anacyclus pyrethrum (AEAP), which has been reported to exhibit anticonvulsant activity. The dependency was validated using the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm, behavioral, and biochemical tests, while the gut microbiota was identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The CPP and behavioral tests confirmed the presence of MDMA withdrawal syndrome. Interestingly, treatment with AEAP led to a compositional shift in the GM compared to the MDMA-treated rats. Specifically, the AEAP group yielded a higher relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacter , while animals receiving MDMA had higher levels of E. coli . These findings suggest that A. pyrethrum therapy may directly modulate the gut microbiome, highlighting a potential target for regulating and treating substance use disorders. Keywords: brain–gut axis, gut microbiota, MDMA, dependence, conditioned place preference, microbial composition, dysbiosis, addiction, depression/withdrawal
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Abdelmounaim Baslam, Abdelfatah Aitbaba, Asmae Lamrani Hanchi et al.. Modulation of Gut Microbiome in Ecstasy/MDMA-Induced Behavioral and Biochemical Impairment in Rats and Potential of Post-Treatment with Anacyclus pyrethrum L. Aqueous Extract to Mitigate Adverse Effects. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24109086 Abdelmounaim Baslam, Abdelfatah Aitbaba, Asmae Lamrani Hanchi, Zakaria Tazart, Rachida Aboufatima, Nabila Soraa, Mohamed Ait-El-Mokhtar, Samia Boussaa, Marouane Baslam, Abderrahman Chait
1Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco; [email protected] (A.B.); 2Laboratory of Microbiology, University Hospital Mohamed VI, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco 3Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida 2080, Malta 4Laboratory of Biological Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal 23000, Morocco 5Laboratory of Biochemistry, Environment & Agri-Food URAC 36, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Techniques—Mohammedia, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Mohammedia 20000, Morocco 6ISPITS—Higher Institute of Nursing and Health Techniques, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Rabat 10000, Morocco 7Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Niigata, Niigata 950-2181, Japan 8Centre d’Agrobiotechnologie et Bioingénierie, Unité de Recherche Labellisée CNRST (Centre AgroBiotech-URL-CNRST-05), Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco 9Laboratory of Agro-Food, Biotechnologies and Valorization of Plant Bioresources (AGROBIOVAL), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University (UCA), Marrakesh 40000, Morocco 