THE ROLE OF FERMENTED SOYMILK WITH POTENTIAL PROBIOTIC PROPERTIES IN THE TREATMENT OF DIARRHEA IN YOUNG RATS

Abstract

In recent years, novel insights have been made into the role of probiotics in health
and inflammatory bowel disease. In the present study, soymilk was fermented with Lactobacillus
casei, L. bulgaricus, Bif. longum as single or mixed starters (1:1:1 v/v). The
viable counts in probiotic soymilk were ranged from 7 to 8 log CFU/ml. These probiotic
soymilk preparations were organolyptically and biologically evaluated. Using these probiotics
led to a significant (p>0.05) improvement of the unpleasant taste of raw. The effect
of these products against picolax-induced diarrhea in young rats (3 weeks) was also
studied. Daily notices, stool frequency, stool fluidity, and death ratio were recorded during
7 days. Biochemical parameters in blood serum of rats including kidney and liver
functions, mineral concentrations, glucose and hemoglobin were assayed before and after
the onset of diarrhea. Significant reduction (p<0.05) in body weight, kidney functions,
some minerals concentration was recorded just after inducing diarrhea. Feeding on the
probiotic soymilk preparations let to promoting early recover from diarrhea especially
when L. casei or the mixed culture was used. Significant enhancements (p<0.05) in most
of studied biochemical parameters in the blood serum were recorded on the 7th day when
rats were administrated with probiotic soymilk comparing with negative control rats (feed
on basal diet and free access to water) or positive control rats (feed on basal diet and free
access to water contained a commercial oral rehydration solution).