Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effect of ampicillin on rat intestinal microflora and liver in the presence of high carbohydrate and protein diets.Methods: Male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups. The first group served as the control, the second group was treated with ampicillin (50 mg/kg for 3 weeks) and fed with a standard diet, while the third and fourth groups were treated with the same dose of ampicillin and fed with acarbohydrateand protein-rich diets, respectively, to observe the effect of diet on gut flora and liver. Fecal specimens were collected and used for qualitative determination of gut microbiota composition. Serum hepatospecific markers (AST, ALT and ALP) were estimated. The antioxidant status of liver tissues was estimated for GSH, MDA, GST, LDH and vitamin C l, in addition to sodium and potassium.Results: Administration of orogastric dose of ampicillin for 3 weeks induced inhibition of E.coli, yeasts, total anaerobes, and anaerobic lactobacilli with new growth of P. vulgaris and K. pneumonia. The levels of serum AST, ALT and ALP showed significant (p ˂ 0.05) increase to 163, 112.38 and 115.35 %, respectively in ampicillin-treated animals, compared to control. Also significant (p ˂ 0.05) increase in lipid peroxidation (120 %) and LDH (111 %) coupled with significant (p ˂ 0.05) decrease in glutathione (74.57 %), vitamin C (63.49 %) and glutathione S-transferase (41.51 %) were observed in ampicillintreated groups. No significant variation (p ˂ 0.05) in sodium and potassium levels were found between control and the treated group after 3 weeks of treatment.Conclusion: These results confirm that extended ampicillin therapy disrupts gut flora, which results in liver injury; hence, overuse of antibiotics should be avoidKeywords: Ampicillin, Gut microbiota, Overgrowth, Dietary Strategies, Liver
Highlights
Gut microbiota has significant effects on human health and disease, nutrient uptake
New colonies of P. vulgaris and K. pneumonia were found in all ampicillin-treated groups
Effect of ampicillin on liver functions of rats fed with different diet After treatment with ampicillin, the levels of serum AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) significantly increased, compared with the control by approximately 163, 112.38 and 115.35 %, respectively (Table 3)
Summary
Gut microbiota has significant effects on human health and disease, nutrient uptake. The effects of gut microbiota are not limited to the intestine. Microbiota performs vital functions essential to health maintenance, including food processing, digestion of complex indigestible polysaccharides and synthesis of vitamins [2]. Gut microbial flora has spatial and temporal complexity that varies from person to person, body niche, age, geographic location, health status, diet and type of host [3]. Even within the same individual, the composition of microbial flora can vary according to changes in diet, stress, sexual behavior, medication, hormonal changes, exposure to antibiotics and other host-related factors. When the mutually beneficial relationship between the flora and body is disrupted, some bacterial can overgrow in the intestine and cause disease [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
