Synergistic laxative effect of fermented rice extracts with probiotic-containing yogurt in normal rats

Abstract

It was evaluated the synergistic effects of fermented rice extracts (FRe) on the laxative and probiotic effects of yogurt in normal rats. Commercial liquid yogurt (Bulgaris™) containing 0.05%, 0.10%, and 1.0% FRe (BFRe) was administered orally to normal rats daily for 10 days. Compared with the vehicle control, the three BFRe treatments exhibited highly significant increases in fecal pellet numbers, water content, thickness of surface mucous in the colonic lumen, intestinal charcoal transit ratio, thickness of the colonic mucosa, and mucous-producing goblet cells; decreased numbers and mean diameters of fecal pellets remaining in the colonic lumen were detected compared with the vehicle control, and numbers of viable Lactobacilli in cecum contents and feces were dramatically higher than those in vehicle control rats. More favorable probiotic and laxative effects were detected in rats treated with 0.1% and 1.0% BFRe compared with equal doses of liquid yogurt or FRe alone. Therefore, appropriate concentrations of BFRe may be highly effective for alleviating constipation and provide a complementary natural approach to reducing lifestyleinduced constipation.