Probiotics and Prebiotics Having Broad Spectrum Anticancer Therapeutic Potential: Recent Trends and Future Perspectives

A variety of microorganisms including bacteria, yeasts, and fungi are constituents of probiotics, quintessential as a part of human health as they produce a variety of molecules deliberated to be antibiotics. The changes in gut microbiota have been known to impose an impact on advancements and the beginning of chronic inflammatory pathways resulting in genetic alterations leading to dysplasia, clonal expansion, etc. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome has been known to promote patient susceptibility as far as colonization by pathobionts is concerned. It has been observed that gut-microbial communities could influence immunomodulation, reduced inflammation along with gut homeostasis restoration. Probiotics, therefore, could be used as adjunctive therapy along with anticancer drugs reducing the level of inflammation. Moreover, probiotics have also been quite effective as a therapeutic option in the treatment/prevention of dental caries, periodontal diseases, urogenital infections, and gastrointestinal infections. Similarly, prebiotics are classified as non-digestible food ingredients which selectively stimulate the growth and metabolism of healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract, thereby improving the intestinal balance of an organism. The current review emphasizes upon the significant role of probiotics and prebiotics in influencing the microbiota which could further influence the immune system development and its perturbation as well as forming a symbiotic relationship with the host-maintaining balanced and efficient immune response further protecting from colonization by pathogens. The study further enhances our understanding about the key roles played by probiotics and prebiotics in the stimulation of the immune system, reducing the inflammatory responses and oxidative stress as well.