Abstract

HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF PROBIOTIC, CONTAINING LACTOBACILLUS BULGARICUS DWT1, IN ACUTE PARACETAMOL-INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE IN RATS

Gabriela Kehayova*, Marieta Georgieva and Kaloyan Georgiev

Abstract

Hepatic impairment is one of the most common organ damage and occurs asymptomatically until damage affects a significant part of the organ. The aim of the present study was to investigate a hepatoprotective activity of a new strain of Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1 against paracetamol-induced hepatic damage in Wistar rats. Laktera Nature, containing Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1, Lactobacillus helveticus DWT2, Lactobacillus lactis DWT3 and Streptococcus thermophilus DWT 4,5, 6, 7, 8 administered at oral doses of 800 mg/kg and 1600 mg/kg, showed significant hepatoprotective effects by decreasing the levels of serum marker enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gama -glutamiltransferase (GGT), as compared to standard drug (silymarin) and negative control. Histopathological analysis showed that administration of the probiotic minimized liver damage, by reducing the level of morphological changes and necrosis. Our findings demonstrate the possible use of Laktera Nature, containing Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1, Lactobacillus helveticus DWT2, Lactobacillus lactis DWT3 and Streptococcus thermophilus DWT4,5, 6, 7, 8 for prevention of liver injury.

Keywords: probiotic, paracetamol, liver damage, hepatoprotective effect.