title: Antimicrobial and healing activity of kefir and kefiran extract.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Lab. Biologia e Fisiologia de Microrganismos, Unifenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kamila Leite
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Lucélia Rita Gaudino
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.forename: Jose Carlos Tavares
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: Jose Maurício
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schneedorf
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D005782:Gels; D011134:Polysaccharides; C050180:kefir grain polysaccharide