Antimicrobial and healing activity of kefir and kefiran extract.
Kefir and its insoluble polysaccharide, kefiran, were both tested for antimicrobial and cicatrizing activities against several bacterial species and Candida albicans using an agar diffusion method. Comparator antimicrobials were also tested. Cicatrizing experiments were carried out on Wistar rats with induced skin lesions and Staphylococcus aureus inoculation, using a topical application of a 70% kefir gel. Both kefir and kefiran showed some activity against all organisms tested; the highest activity was against Streptococcus pyogenes. Cicatrizing experiments using 70% kefir gel had a protective effect on skin connective tissue and 7 days treatment enhanced wound healing compared with 5 mg/kg of neomycin-clostebol emulsion.
Rodrigues
Kamila Leite
KL
Lab. Biologia e Fisiologia de Microrganismos, Unifenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
Caputo
Lucélia Rita Gaudino
LR
Carvalho
Jose Carlos Tavares
JC
Evangelista
João
J
Schneedorf
Jose Maurício
JM
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000188:drug therapy*; D043302:Cultured Milk Products / Q000378:metabolism; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005782:Gels; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D005782:Gels; D011134:Polysaccharides; C050180:kefir grain polysaccharide