Preventive effect of Lactobacillus fermentum Lee on activated carbon-induced constipation in mice.

Gui-Jie Li,Yu Qian,Jian Li,Jia-Li Song,Muying Du,Huayi Suo,Xin Zhao,Zhenhu Liu

doi:10.3892/etm.2014.2064

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus fermentum Lee (LF-Lee) on activated carbon-induced constipation in ICR mice. ICR mice were orally administered lactic acid bacteria for nine days. Body weight, dietary and water intake, defecation status, gastrointestinal (GI) transit and defecation time, as well as levels of motilin (MTL), gastrin (Gas), endothelin (ET), somatostatin (SS), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in serum were measured to evaluate the preventive effects of LF-Lee on constipation. Bisacodyl, a laxative drug, was administered as a positive control. The time taken until the first defecation of a black stool for normal, control, bisacodyl- (100 mg/kg, oral administration), Lactobacillus bulgaricus (LB)-, LF-Lee low dose (L)- and LF-Lee high dose (H)-treated mice was 90, 218, 117, 180, 161 and 151 min, respectively. Following the consumption of LB, LF-Lee (L) or LF-Lee (H), or the oral administration of bisacodyl, the GI transit was reduced to 55.2, 65.8, 73.1 and 94.6%, respectively, of the transit in normal mice. The serum levels of MTL, Gas, ET, AChE, SP and VIP were significantly increased and those of SS were reduced in the mice treated with LF-Lee compared with those in the untreated control mice (P<0.05). These results demonstrate that lactic acid bacteria have preventive effects on constipation in mice and that LF-Lee has superior functional activity.

Highlights

Yak yogurt is a traditional dairy product from the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau
Body weight is an important marker of constipation in mice; the body weights of mice with activated carbon‐induced constipation are lower compared with those of normal mice [12]
Bisacodyl is an effective medicine for Effect of lactic acid bacteria on diet and water uptake

Summary

Introduction

Yak yogurt is a traditional dairy product from the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. Rich in nutrients, it aids digestion, stimulates appetite and has antibacterial, pore constringing, sedation and hypnosis effects. It aids digestion, stimulates appetite and has antibacterial, pore constringing, sedation and hypnosis effects It can be beneficial in patients with chronic mild diarrhea [1]. When activated carbon is administered to mice, constipation occurs due to a reduction in the quantity of gastrointestinal (GI) fluid and weakening of GI peristalsis as the activated carbon is absorbed on the surface of the GI mucosa, which reduces GI functioning. Numerous studies have carried out experiments on animal models with activated carbon‐induced constipation [3]. One study revealed that a megadose of activated carbon resulted in digestive tract obstruction [6]

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Results