The Effects of Psychobiotics and Adaptogens on the Human Stress and Anxiety Response: A Systematic Review
In recent years, growing interest has emerged in the use of psychobiotics and adaptogens for regulating stress and anxiety. However, it is essential to assess their effectiveness as treatment alternatives, particularly given the limitations of conventional approaches, such as adverse effects of phar...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Iris Llopis Noemí San-Miguel Miguel Ángel Serrano |
| author_facet | Iris Llopis Noemí San-Miguel Miguel Ángel Serrano |
| author_sort | Iris Llopis |
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| description | In recent years, growing interest has emerged in the use of psychobiotics and adaptogens for regulating stress and anxiety. However, it is essential to assess their effectiveness as treatment alternatives, particularly given the limitations of conventional approaches, such as adverse effects of pharmacological therapies and the limited remission rates associated with psychotherapy alone. This systematic review primarily aims to assess how effective psychobiotics and adaptogens are in alleviating stress- and anxiety-related psychophysiological symptoms. A secondary aim is to identify specific bacterial strains and herbal compounds most consistently linked to beneficial outcomes. An extensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using the terms ((adaptogens) OR (psychobiotics)) AND (stress), resulting in 23 selected articles. The findings suggest that both psychobiotics and adaptogens show promise in reducing stress- and anxiety-related symptoms. <i>Bifidobacterium longum</i> and <i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</i> were frequently associated with improved gut–brain axis regulation, while <i>Withania somnifera</i> and <i>Rhodiola rosea</i> demonstrated physiological benefits through cortisol reduction and stress adaptation. Although results are encouraging, further research is needed to confirm long-term efficacy and clarify the specific mechanisms and compounds responsible for these effects. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b78537384d44463e863d740a7cafca6a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-b78537384d44463e863d740a7cafca6a2025-08-20T02:28:18ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-04-01158456410.3390/app15084564The Effects of Psychobiotics and Adaptogens on the Human Stress and Anxiety Response: A Systematic ReviewIris Llopis0Noemí San-Miguel1Miguel Ángel Serrano2Departamento de Psicobiología, Universitat de València, 46022 València, SpainDepartamento de Psicobiología, Universitat de València, 46022 València, SpainDepartamento de Psicobiología, Universitat de València, 46022 València, SpainIn recent years, growing interest has emerged in the use of psychobiotics and adaptogens for regulating stress and anxiety. However, it is essential to assess their effectiveness as treatment alternatives, particularly given the limitations of conventional approaches, such as adverse effects of pharmacological therapies and the limited remission rates associated with psychotherapy alone. This systematic review primarily aims to assess how effective psychobiotics and adaptogens are in alleviating stress- and anxiety-related psychophysiological symptoms. A secondary aim is to identify specific bacterial strains and herbal compounds most consistently linked to beneficial outcomes. An extensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using the terms ((adaptogens) OR (psychobiotics)) AND (stress), resulting in 23 selected articles. The findings suggest that both psychobiotics and adaptogens show promise in reducing stress- and anxiety-related symptoms. <i>Bifidobacterium longum</i> and <i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</i> were frequently associated with improved gut–brain axis regulation, while <i>Withania somnifera</i> and <i>Rhodiola rosea</i> demonstrated physiological benefits through cortisol reduction and stress adaptation. Although results are encouraging, further research is needed to confirm long-term efficacy and clarify the specific mechanisms and compounds responsible for these effects.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4564stressanxietymicrobiomepsychobioticsadaptogenscortisol |
| spellingShingle | Iris Llopis Noemí San-Miguel Miguel Ángel Serrano The Effects of Psychobiotics and Adaptogens on the Human Stress and Anxiety Response: A Systematic Review Applied Sciences stress anxiety microbiome psychobiotics adaptogens cortisol |
| title | The Effects of Psychobiotics and Adaptogens on the Human Stress and Anxiety Response: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | The Effects of Psychobiotics and Adaptogens on the Human Stress and Anxiety Response: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of Psychobiotics and Adaptogens on the Human Stress and Anxiety Response: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of Psychobiotics and Adaptogens on the Human Stress and Anxiety Response: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | The Effects of Psychobiotics and Adaptogens on the Human Stress and Anxiety Response: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | effects of psychobiotics and adaptogens on the human stress and anxiety response a systematic review |
| topic | stress anxiety microbiome psychobiotics adaptogens cortisol |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4564 |
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