유산균 R&B Balance^®의 대장염 억제 효과

The anti-colitic effect of lactic acid bacteria mixture (R&B Balance^®) consisting of Lactobacillus brevis HY7401, Lactobacillus helveticus HY7801 and Bifidobacterium longum HY8004 was investigated in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitic mice. Treatment with R&B Balance^® reduced severe colitic symptoms, including colon shortening, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA). The oral administration of R&B Balance^® significantly reduced the activities of fecal chondroitinase and the fecal genotoxicity. Changes of fecal microflora in mice treated with DSS with or without R&B Balance^® were assessed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). Cluster analysis of T-RFLP patterns demonstrated that microflora of DSS-induced colitic mice differed from that of normal mice and the oral administration of R&B Balance^® could change the structure of gut microflora. These findings also suggest that R&B Balance^® may improve colitis by inhibition of the production of harmful enzymes or toxic metabolites in intestine and influence the intestinal microbial diversity in DSS-induced colitic mice.