title: Probiotic Enterococcus lactis IITRHR1 protects against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acetaminophen (APAP), an antipyretic/analgesic drug, is reported to cause toxicity on overdose. Dietary supplements are currently being explored to decrease toxicity. In the present study, the protective effect of probiotic Enterococcus lactis IITRHR1 was evaluated at different doses (10(7), 10(8), and 10(9) colony-forming units) against APAP-induced liver damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were administered APAP (1 g/kg of body weight orally) for 14 d, and hepatotoxicity was assessed by marker enzymes in serum and observation of histopathologic changes. Rats were pretreated with probiotic E. lactis IITRHR1 for 7 d and modulation of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase), redox ratio, and ferric reducing antioxidant power was assessed. Oxidative damage by APAP to membrane lipids, proteins, and DNA was also observed. Involvement of Bax, Bcl2, cytochrome c (pro-/anti-apoptotic proteins), caspases, and their modulation was assessed by immunoblot analysis and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The E. lactis IITRHR1 pretreatment lowered the level of biomarkers of hepatotoxicity in serum. A significant increase was observed in the level of antioxidant enzymes and redox ratio and decreased oxidative damage to membrane lipids and proteins. Probiotic E. lactis IITRHR1 also modulated key apoptotic/anti-apoptotic proteins such as cytochrome-c, Bcl2, Bax, expression of caspases, and resultant DNA damage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Probiotic strain E. lactis IITRHR1 was found to have antioxidant capacity and afforded protection against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity by modulating antioxidant status, pro-/anti-apoptotic proteins, caspases, and DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Herbal Research Section, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Jaya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chaturvedi
authors.forename: Bhushan P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Chaudhari
authors.forename: Ram L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Poonam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kakkar
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004249:DNA Damage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D016983:Enterococcus; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050050:Protein Carbonylation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000975:Antioxidants; D001688:Biological Products; D015415:Biomarkers; D000082:Acetaminophen