Miri Park
Chung-Ang University, South Korea
Title: Protective Effect of Exopolysaccharides Produced by Lactobacillus plantarum LRCC5310 on Rotavirus-Induced Diarrhea and Safety Assessment in Mice
Biography
Biography: Miri Park
Abstract
Rotaviruses are the most important cause of diarrhea in infants and children worldwide. However, to date, no specific antiviral drugs for the treatment of rotavirus infection have been developed. We isolated Lactobacillus strains from the Korean traditional fermented food, Kimchi. Among them, Lactobacillus plantarum LRCC5310 strain, specifically, the exopolysaccharides(EPS) produced from the strain, were shown to have an antiviral effect against human rotavirus Wa strain in vivo. The oral administration of EPS led to a decrease in the duration of diarrhea, viral shedding and the destruction of enteric epithelium integrity in the infected mice. Also, to assess safety, oral administration to mice for 14 days had no adverse effects on liver, heart, stomach, lung, kidney and intestine through histology and blood analysis. The findings indicate that the strain L. platarum LRCC5310 does not raise safety concerns in mice, up to 5,000 ppm concentration. Thus, this EPS is likely to be safe for human consumption and it can be used for the effective control of rotavirus infection. Further studies in humans should be conducted.