Impact of Eurycoma longifolia (Physta®) on Gut Microbiome Composition: A Case Study Using Precision Microbiome Profiling

Abstract

The gut microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining human health particularly via the gut-brain axis by regulating metabolic, immune and neuroendocrine functions. The supplementation of pro and prebiotics along with certain nutrition may benefit gut microbial diversity. Early clinical research of Eurycoma longifolia supplementation demonstrated physical and mental benefits. Subsequently, animal studies demonstrated improvement in gut of a single gut microbe, accompanied with improvement in stress and sleep among farmed livestock. This preliminary case study aimed to investigate the effect of a standardized water extract of Eurycoma longifolia (Physta®) supplementation on gut microbiome composition using qPCR-based Precision Microbiome Profiling (PMP™) technology. The PMP™ quantifies 108 bacteria species categorized into four groups ie: Short-Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio, Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, pathogenic bacteria, including Proteobacteria and was recorded pre and post- intervention. The supplementation of Physta® demonstrated improvements in diversity and target bacterial group ie. Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli; and SCFA producing bacteria Faecalibacterium prausnitzii while reducing pathogenic microbe Proteobacteria. The supplementation of Physta® may be beneficial for gut health with a potential of managing dysbiosis-related conditions and should be evaluated in a larger population.