Biological characteristics and probiotic effect of Leuconostoc lactis strain isolated from the intestine of black porgy fish

A strain of lactic acid bacteria, Leuconostoc lactis, was isolated from the intestinal tract of black porgy, Sparus macrocephalus, and identified by conventional biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. The isolated strain had the ability of bile tolerance and resistance to low pH, and survived well in the trypsinase and pepsin solution. But the highly concentrated dose of trypsinase and pepsin affect the viability of the isolated strain. The isolate was resistant to several antibiotics, including Cephalothin, Ceftriaxone, Imipenem and Tobramycin. The isolate could autoaggregate itself and coaggregate with other bacteria in vitro. The autoaggregation percentage increased to 23.29% after 20 h of incubation. The percentage of coaggregation were respectively 31.21%, 29.44%, 10.74%, 16.49%, 24.36%, 24.41% and 20.99% for Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteusbacillus vulgaris after 20 h incubation of a mixed suspension. The supernatant of the strain inhibited the growth of several pathogens, such as V.parahaemolyticus, Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio alginolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus subtilis, Proteusbacillus vulgaris and Shigella. These results indicated that the isolate, Leuconostoc lactis, might be an attractive candidate for perspectival strain for probiotics in marine aquaculture.

effect of Amirkabiria odoratissima extract on gastric acid and pepsin secretion level in rat

Amirkabiria odoratissima is widely used as an odorant in east south provinces. Many people believe that this plant is useful in treatment of some gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of the plant extract on the secretion rate of acid and pepsin in the stomach of the rats studied. This is an experimental study involving 3 groups of rats, 8 in each group. The control group received placebo and case groups were received 100 mg/kg and 16.2 mg/kg of Amirkabiria odoratissima by gastrodeodenostomy canola. After anesthesia with nesdonal, 50 mg/kg IP, rats were gone under surgical process, tracheotomy. Subsequently, stomach secretion obtained using Wash Out method included in the first and the second base and measured acid by titrimetry method and pepsin by Anson method. Data were analyzed using t and ANOVA methods. The amount of acid significantly decreased in both Amirkabiria odoratissima groups compared to control group [p<0.001]. However, there was no significant change in pepsin secretion [p>0.05]. Using of Amirkabiria odoratissima decreases gastric acid secretion and may be useful in patients with gastro intestinal disorders

[Effect of Heracleum persicum extract on acid and pepsin secretion level in both basic and stimulated conditions with pentagastrin in rat]

The Heraclleum persicum is widely used as an odorant in pickles around the world and particularly in Iran. As pickle is a gastric stimulator, the question is whether this plant which is used in making pickles, decreases gastric stimulation of this group of foods, or increases it, and in general, what is the cellular mechanism of this plant on acid and pepsin secretion. Therefore, in this study the effect of plant entrants on the secretion rate of acid and pepsin surveyed in the stomach in rats. This study involves two groups [12 in each group] of rats in experimental method [Control group and Heracleum group]. After anesthesia with nesdonal, 50 mg/kg IP, rats were gone under surgical process, tracheotomy, laparatomy and gasteroadeodenostomy and the Heraclleum extract [12.5 mg/kg] was send into the stomach from gasterodeodenostomy canula in Herculean group. The amount of both acid and pepsin in both basal and stimulated condition were significantly increased in heracleum group compared to control group [p<0.001]. Pentagastrin also increased acid and pepsin secretion in control group [p<0.001] and increased pepsin in heraclleum group [p<0.05] but did not significantly change in acid secretion in heraclleum group. The Heracleum persicum increases acid and pepsin secretion when is used in food regimen. Its extract also increases gastric acid secretion via blockage of gastric receptor. However, a different mechanism is involved in the increasing of pepsin secretion

effect of acute consumption of paraoxon on basal and Pentagastrin-Stimulated Gastric acid and pepsin secretion in rats

Paraoxon is an organophosphate. Organophosphate inhibit acetylcholinestrase enzyme and cause nicotinic and muscarinic sings. There is no study on our knowledge regarding the effect of these substances on gastric acid and pepsin secretion. In the present study, the effect of acute consumption of paraoxon on gastric acid and pepsin secretion has been investigated. In the present study 30 female N-mari rats weighing 200-250gr were used. The first group [paraoxon] received 0.5mg/kg paraoxon intraperitonealy. The second group [alcohol] received the dozes of ethyl alcohol [96%] and the third group [control] received no drug. Animals were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of 50mg/kg Sodium thiopental. After trachesotomy and laparatomy gastric secretions were collected with a tube via duodenum. Pentagastrin [25 micro g/kg. ip] was used as gastric stimulator. Acid and pepsin secretions were measured by titration and Anson methods respectively. Stages of measurement were basal, stimulated. and re-basal. The basal acid secretion in control, alcohol and paraoxon groups was 7.6 +/- 0.26, 7.46 +/- 0.4 and 7.03 +/- 0.28 micro mol/15min respectively that shows no significant difference among three groups. Although following pentagastrin-stimulation acid secretion was significantly more than basal stage in all groups, but there was significantly more secretion in control than alcohol subjects. But there was no difference between control and paraoxon or alcohol and paraoxon groups in this regard. Regarding pepsin secretion, there was significantly more secretion in alcohol subjects than others in all measured stages. In comparison to control group, acute paraoxon has no effect on basal acid pepsin secretion, while acute alcohol caused a significant increase in basal acid/pepsin secretion

Garlic effects on gastric acid and pepsin secretions in rat

Garlic [Allium Satiyum] is a plant widely used in traditional medicine. Its anti-hypertensive, lipid lowering, oxidative activities, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties have been proven. It has a tonic effects on stomach but its effects on gastric secretion is not known. To investigate the effect of garlic extract on basal and pentagastrin stimulated gastric acid and secretions in rats. Garlic extract stimulates gastric gland causing increased production/release of basal acid and pepsin level. Garlic acid mask pentagastrin stimulatory response and causes decrease in acid and pepsin secretary level. Two group of wistar rats [12 in each group] weighing 200-250gm were used. The first group was considered as study group and received garlic extract, the second group was considered as control. Animal were anesthetized with an intraperitoneal injection of sodium thiopental [50 mg/kg] and after tracheotomy and ligation of cervical esophagus, laparotomy was done. A cannula was placed in stomach through duodenum and 1ml of normal saline was injected in to stomach in each group. After 30 minutes their stomach were emptied. Next in study group 1ml garlic extract [100 mg/kg] and in control group 1ml normal saline were introduced into stomach. After 15 min 1ml normal saline was injected in both groups and immediately all gastric contents were collected in both groups by wash out technique and basal secretions of acid and pepsin were measured. In order to measure pentagastrin effect on gastric secretions, 25 micro gram/kg pentagastrin was used in both groups. Basal acid secretion in study group showed a significant increase in comparison to control group with P value <0.001 [15.6 +/- 1.63 micro mol/15 min in case group vs 4.1 +/- 0.36 micro mol/15min]. Basal pepsin secretion in study group showed a significant increase in comparison to control group with P value <0.001 [7.27 +/- 0.15 micro gm/15min in case group vs 5.62 +/- 0.12 micro gm/15min]. On pentagastrin stimulation, acid secretion in control group showed a significant increase in comparison to its basal value with P value <0.001 [10.14 +/- 1.34 micro mol/15min in vs 4.1 +/- 0.36 micro mol/15 min] but its value decreases in study group [10.5 +/- 1.89 micro mol/15min basal value]. In control group following pentagastrin stimulation, pepsin secretion showed a significant increase in comparison to its basal value with P value <0.001 [6.9 +/- 0.12 micro gm/15min in case group vs 5.62 +/- 0.12 micro gm/15min], while in study group there is no significant difference from its basal value [7.03 +/- 0.03 micro gm/15 min vs 7.27 +/- 0.15 micro gm/15 min basal value]. Garlic extract have a stimulatory effect on acid and pepsin secretion. The possible mechanism cloud be: a] Increase in parietal or chief cell activities due to Ach release. b] Due to its stimulatory effect on histamine release. However, on pentagastrin stimulation acid secretion decline and pepsin level remain same in study group and this effect may be due to rapid emptying of gastric acid stock or due to inhibition of gastric activity because of attachment of some components in garlic extracts to gastrin receptors on parietal cells

Feasibility of using papaya skin extract for digestion of swamp eel viscera for harvesting infective stage larva of Gnathostoma spp.

In this study, we reported the feasibility of using papaya skin extract (Carica papaya L.) as an alternative to enzyme pepsin in harvesting Gnathostoma spinigerum third-stage larvae. From experimental digestion, we found that the different numbers of recovered larvae between papaya skin extract and pepsin were not statistically significant (p >0.05). When the derived larvae from pepsin and papaya skin extract digestion were cultivated in BME medium for 7 days, the survival rates were not significantly different either (p >0.05). Thus, papaya skin extract might be another choice for recovering Gnathostoma spinigerum third-stage larvae.

Gene encoding the group B streptococcal protein R4, its presence in clinical reference laboratory isolates & R4 protein pepsin sensitivity.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: R proteins were first identified by Lancefield in group B Streptococcus (GBS) as resistant to trypsin at pH8 and sensitive to pepsin at pH2. The R4 protein found predominantly in type III and some type II and V invasive isolates conforms to these criteria. The Rib protein, although structurally and epidemiologically similar to R4, was reported as resistant to both proteases. We report here the gene encoding the R4 protein from a type III group B streptococcal isolate (76-043) well characterized in our laboratory. METHODS: Trypsin extracted GBS proteins were assayed for protease sensitivities by double-diffusion Ouchterlony using varying conditions for the enzyme pepsin. Standard haemoglobin assay was used to examine pepsin enzymatic activity. Thirty clinical isolates of varying protein profiles identified by double-diffusion from our reference strain laboratory were screened by PCR and Southern technique. SDS-PAGE gel purified R4 amino acid sequences were determined and used to design oligonucleotide primers for screening a 76-043 genomic library. RESULTS: R4 was sensitive to pepsin at pH2 but appeared resistant at pH4, the reported pH used for Rib. By standard haemoglobin assay and trypsin extract studies of R4 protein, pepsin was shown to be active at pH2, yet easily inactivated; assays of GBS surface proteins are critical at pH2. Of the amino acids initially sequenced from R4, 88 per cent (61/69) showed identity to Rib; the r4 nucleotide sequence was identical to that of rib. All isolates with strong positive protein reactions for R4 were positive in both PCR and Southern technique, whereas isolates expressing alpha, beta, R1/R4, and R5 (BPS) protein profiles were not. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Sequenced PCR products aligned with identity to the R4 and Rib nucleotide sequences and confirmed the identity of these proteins and their molecular sequences.

effects of chronic consumption of heroin on basal and vagal electrical-stimulated gastric acid and pepsin secretion in rat

Addiction to opium and heroin is not only an important social and individual problem in the world but it also affects the human physiology and multiple systems. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of chronic heroin consumption on basal and vagus electrical-stimulated total gastric acid and pepsin secretion in rats. The study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran from August 2002 to June 2003. Both male and female rats weighing 200-250g were used. Rats received daily doses of heroin intraperitoneally starting from 0.2 mg/kg to 0.1mg/kg/day up to the maintenance level of 0.7mg/kg and continued until day 12. After anesthesia, tracheotomy and laparotomy, gastric effluents were collected by washout technique with a 15 minutes interval. The total titrable acid was measured by manual titrator, and the total pepsin content was measured by Anson's method. Vagal electrical stimulation was used to stimulate the secretion of acid and pepsin. Heroin results in a significant decrease in total basal acid and pepsin secretions [4.10 +/- 0.18mmol/15 minutes versus 2.40 +/- 0.16mmol/15 minutes for acid, p<0.01, and 3.63 +/- 0.18 mg/15 minutes versus 3.11 +/- 0.18 mg/15 minutes for pepsin, p<0.05]. But, it does not produce any significant changes in acid and pepsin secretions in vagotomized condition. Heroin also causes a significant decrease in vagal-electrically stimulated acid and pepsin secretions [14.70 +/- 0.54 mmol/15 minutes versus 4.30 +/- 0.21mmol/15 minutes for acid, p<0.01, and 3.92 +/- 0.16 mg/15 minutes versus 3.37 +/- 0.16 mg/15 minutes for pepsin, p less than 0.05]. Heroin consumption decreases the total gastric basal and vagus stimulation of acid and pepsin secretion, but not in vagotomized condition. Heroin may decrease acid secretion by inhibiting vagal release of acetylcholine within the gastric wall. Other probable mechanisms include: presynaptic inhibition of acetylcholine release or depressing the vagal center, inhibition of pentagastrin induced acid secretion, inhibitory effects via central mechanisms, probably mediated by the opiate receptors. Further studies are needed to recognize the actual mechanism

Evaluation of Pongamia pinnata root extract on gastric ulcers and mucosal offensive and defensive factors in rats.

Effect of methanolic extract of P. Pinnata roots (PPRM) was studied against various experimental gastric ulcer models and offensive and defensive gastric mucosal factors in rats. An initial dose-response study using 12.5-50 mg/kg P. Pinnata root extract, when given orally in two divided dose for 4 days + 5th full dose on the day of experiment 60 min before the experiment, indicated 25 mg/kg as an optimal regimen and was used for further study. PPRM showed significant protection against aspirin and 4 hr PL, but not against ethanol-induced gastric ulceration. It showed tendency to decrease acetic acid-induced ulcer after 10 days treatment. Ulcer protective effect of PPRM was due to augmentation of mucosal defensive factors like mucin secretion, life span of mucosal cells, mucosal cell glycoproteins, cell proliferation and prevention of lipid per oxidation rather than on the offensive acid-pepsin secretion.

Effect of thyroid hormones on distension - induced gastric acid and pepsin secrertions in rats

Thyroid hormones are known to influence acid and pepsin secretion, though the exact mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, distension-stimulated acid and pepsin secretions in hypo- and hyperthyroid rats were compared with controls. Materials and Each group consisted of 8 N-mari rats of both sexes, weighing 246.6 +/- 9.2 g. Hypo- and hyperthyroid states were induced by administration of methimazole [500 mg/L H2O] and thyroxin [200 micro g/L H2O] respectively, in drinking water. All animals were deprived of food, but not of water 24 hours before the experiments. After anesthetization with sodium thiopental [50 mg/kg body weight, ip], tracheotomy and laparatomy, gastric secretions were collected through a cannula introduced via the duodenum. Gastric distension was induced by the injection of Ringer solution in stomach [1.5 cm3/100 g body weight]. Acid secretions, which were measured by automatic titrator in the hypothyroid, hyperthyroid and control groups were 8 +/- 0.2, 14.6 +/- 1.9 and 10.2 +/- 0.1 micro mol/15 min, respectively. Pepsin secretions were 4.4 +/- 0.5, 9.09 +/- 0.4 and 6.1 +/- 0.1 mg/15 min. in respective groups. There were statistically significant differences in both series between control and the other two groups. The results from the measurements of thyroid-stimulating hormones and T4 hormones showed that increased or decreased thyroid function can significantly affect gastric distension-induced acid and pepsin secretion

Experimental evaluation of Bocopa monniera on rat gastric ulceration and secretion.

The anti-ulcerogenic effect of fresh juice from the whole plant of Bocapa monniera Wettst. (BMJ) commonly known as Brahmi in Hindi was examined using gastric ulcer models induced by ethanol, aspirin, 2 h cold restraint stress and 4 h pylorus ligation. Bocapa monniera juice (BMJ) at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg and sucralfate at a dose of 250 mg/kg were given orally, twice daily for 5 days. BMJ 100-300 mg/kg produced significant antiulcer activity in all the experimental gastric ulcer models except in case of ethanol-induced ulcers where 100 mg/kg was not found to decrease it significantly. BMJ (100-300 mg/kg) was found to have little or no effect on the offensive acid-pepsin secretion, while cell shedding (microgram DNA/mg of protein) and mucin secretion in terms of total carbohydrates:protein ration (TC:P), the two important parameters of defensive factors were significantly decreased and increased respectively indicating enhancement of protective mucosal factors. Both BMJ (300 mg/kg) and SF showed tendency to increase the mucosal glycoproteins in terms of TC:P, though individual carbohydrates and total carbohydrates were either increased or showed a tendency to increase. Thus, ulcer protective effect of BMJ may be due to its effect on mucosal defensive factors like enhanced mucin secretion, mucosal glycoprotein and decreased cell shedding rather than on offensive factors such as acid and pepsin.

Enzymatic determination of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber in rice and wheat bran

The information about dietary fiber presents controversies in many research areas such as in nomenclature, related illnesses, recommended quantities and terminology, mainly because of lack of analytical data. Different needs and interests for the dietary fiber composition of foods and forages have led to a proliferation of methods for its analysis. This research, a further adaptation of the enzymatic method of Asp et al. (1983) for its appplication is proposed for rice and wheat bran, byproducts of agroindustries in the southern region of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). The inclusion of Amyloglucosidase in the proposed methodology contributed to the decrease in the content of residual starch at the end of the experiment, like Prosky et al (1992). To increase the efficiency of the enzyme system inthis type of samples, other changes were made with respect to incubation time and proteolytic enzyme concentration. In the final adaptation, a decrease of 51.33 per cent of the starch content was observed in rice bran (RB) and of 52.93 per cent in wheat bran (WB). This decrease was also verified in the model system (MS) (52.08 per cent), which demonstrates the adequacy of the proposed adaptation. With respect to the residual protein, it was verified that the measures adopted provoked a reduction of 42.15 per cent (RB), 52.19 per cent (WB) and 42.11 per cent (MS) as compared to the original method. Then the proposed conditions has been shown to be efficient in decreasing the level of interference (indigestible starch and protein) in the quantification of dietary fiber in rice and wheat bran.

Effect of continuous infusion of GABA and baclofen on gastric secretion in anaesthetised rats.

Continuous infusion of gamma- aminobutyric acid (GABA) and baclofen (BAC) on gastric acid and pepsin secretion in perfused rat stomach showed that GABA (25-100 mg/kg/hr, i.v.) and BAC (1 mg/kg/hr, i.v.) increased the acid output which was blocked by bicuculline (Bicc, 1 mg/kg, i.v.) when given 30 min before their infusion. However, lower dose of GABA (5 mg/kg/hr) and hig her doses of BAC (5 or 10 mg/kg/hr) did not show any significant effect on acid secretion. GABA (5 and 25 mg/kg/hr) inhibited peptic output and again Bicc in the above dose inhibited the inhibitory effect of 25 mg/kg/hr of GABA on peptic output. The result indicate dichotomy on the effects of GABA on acid and pepsin secretion. As both the effects were blocked by Bicc, involvement of GABAA receptor may be a possibility. The antiulcer effect of GABA and BAC could not be due to their effect on gastric acid secretion, but may be due to inhibition of pepsin secretion by GABA or effects of GABA or BAC on mucosal defensive factors.

Purificacion y actividad de la pepsina de pollo / Purification and assay of chicken pepsin

The proteolitic enzyme pepsin (EC 3.4.23.1) was purified from chicken stomach by a modification of the method of Bohak (1970): after homogenazing the raw material, the zymogen was extracted with NaCl and NaHCO3, activated with 3N HCl and precipitated with NaCl (28 per cent final concentration). The precipitate was lyophilised; fractions of it were suspended in 0.02N HCl. The solution was filtered through a column (2.6 x 80 cm) of Sephadex G-100 at an elution rate of 8-10 ml x cm-2 x h-1. Two protein peaks were obtained, the first one corresponding to the pepsin (2.0 mg/ml in pooled fractions). The milk clotting activity of the enzyme was determined on skimmed milk as a substrate (Berridge, 1955). Its proteolitic activity on the artificial substrate N-acetyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-3, 5-diiodo tyrosin (APD) also was determined (Rick-Fritsch, 1974). Mean clotting activity value was 5.52 UC, higher (P < 0.01) than that of the reference chymosin (0.64 UC). The activity with APD was unsatisfactory, due to very high absorbance values of the blanks. It is concluded, that the purification steps followed in this trial are simple and rapid, conferring a strong stimulus to using chicken pepsin as a clotting agent for the industrial production of pasteurized white cheese.

Subsite study of human pepsin in disease.

The synthetic peptides AC-Glu-Phe-Phe (NO2)-Arg-amide (peptide VP) and AC-Ile-Glu-Phe-Phe (NO2)-Arg-amide (peptide VIP) are more readily hydrolyzed by human pepsin in gastric juice of patients of gastritis than those of duodenal ulcer and normal subjects. The kinetic parameters suggest that S3 subsite of the enzyme plays a role in the elevation of enzyme activity in gastric disease.

Plasmodium falciparum invades human red cells via a parasite produced glycosidase.

This report describes that P. falciparum produces a neuraminidase like activity on invasion into erythrocytes in culture on the basis of biochemical and immunological investigations. This activity in turn modifies the surface glycoprotein receptors of red cells and may be of help in the inhibition of further invasion by merozoites. The characterization of this enzyme activity may help elucidate the mechanism of cerebral malaria.

Testing for food-borne parasites, their metabolic products and symbionts.

Microscopic animals associated with foods include free-living and saprophytic invertebrates, parasites of hosts other than humans, and parasitic animals specifically designated as food-borne that can infect a human host by the gastrointestinal route. The first general method used to screen for food-borne species was digestion with pepsin and hydrochloric acid at 36 degrees C, based on the "artificial stomach juice" technique for recovering larvae of the nematode Trichinella spiralis from muscle. This method selects for forms capable of surviving a mammalian digestive enzyme at mammalian temperatures. It has been used successfully to recover a variety of food-borne helminths, not only from mammalian flesh but also from fish, shellfish and molluscs, and can be adapted to greatly reduce the "background of living animals" associated with soils and the crops grown in them. However, not all animal forms that survive digestion are food-borne parasites, and all that succumb are not necessarily noninfectious. Methodology to test for food-borne parasites is, in general, not as efficient as that for food-borne bacteria. Recent developments in food parasitology indicate a need to identify not only the parasite, but also its metabolic products and associated symbionts.

Effect of scorpion toxin on the enterochromaffin-like cells in normal and trypanosoma cruzi-infected rats: a morphological study

A injeçäo intravenosa de toxina escorpiônica ( Tityus serrulatus) en ratos normais e infectados pelo Trypanosoma cruzi näo causou alteraçöes morfológicas ultra-estruturais das células enterocromafins-like (ECL) do estômago, embora tenha induzido a aumento significativo da secreçäo do suco gástrico

Effect of pirenzepine on basal gastric acid and pepsin secretion and on secretion stimulated with graded doses of pentagastrin in duodenal ulcer patients

1. The effect of pirenzepine, an antimuscarinic compound, on basal acid an pepsin secretion and on the kinetic characteristics (Vmax and ED50) of pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretion was investigated in 11 duodenal ulcer male patients. 2. Each patient underwent two pentagastrin dose-response tests: one with placebo and the other with pirenzepine given as a 10-mg intravenous bolus followed by 2.5 mg/h continuous infusion. 3. Pirenzepine induced a marked reduction in basal acid secretion (4.4 vs 0.3 mEq/h) and pepsin secretion (76.3 vs 18.3 mPU/h). 4. The drug also caused a reduced response of parietal cells to pentagastrin, which resulted in an increase in ED50 (131 vs 299 ngKg-1h-1). The maximal acid secretory response (Vmax) was reduced (40.9 vs 32.3 mEq/h), but this effect was not demonstrable when the result was expressed as total output minus basal output. 5. Pentagastrin-induced pepsin secretion was not significantly affected by pirenzepine. 6. We conclude that the inhibitory action of pirenzepine on gastric acid secretion results from the effect of the drug on basal secretion and on parietal cell responsiveness to stimuli