Microbiota-derived neuroactive metabolites mediate neurobehavioral effects of goat yogurt supplemented with Opuntia ficus-indica

The present study investigated the effects of goat yogurt supplemented with Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) powder on behavioral parameters, brain oxidative stress, fecal metabolomic and volatilomic profiles, and gut microbiota in young Wistar rats. Thirty male rats were assigned to three groups (n = 10): control (CG), goat yogurt (GY), and goat yogurt supplemented with OFI (CGY), treated orally for 30 days. Behavioral assessments included the open field, elevated plus maze, light-dark box, splash, and forced swim tests. Brain malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls, and glutathione were also evaluated. Fecal metabolites, volatile compounds, and microbiota were analyzed by 1 H NMR, GC–MS, and 16S rRNA sequencing. GY improved anxiety- and depressive-like behavioral parameters, with more pronounced effects in CGY. CGY also reduced cerebral lipid and protein oxidation. Metabolomic and volatilomic profiles showed distinct metabolic signatures. OFI supplementation also enriched butyrate-producing bacteria, particularly Subdoligranulum . Overall, goat yogurt enriched with OFI modulated the microbiota-gut-brain axis.