Hepatoprotective Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria, Inhibitors of -Glucuronidase Production Against Intestinal Microflora

The hepatoprotective activity of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus brevis HY7401, Lactobacillus acidophilus CSG and Bifidobacterium longum HY8001), which inhibited $\beta$-glucuronidase productivity of intestinal microflora, on t-BHP- or CCl$_4$-induced hepatotoxicity of mice were evaluated. These oral administration of lactic acid bacteria lowered $\beta$-glucuronidase production of intestinal microflora as well as Escherichia coli HGU-3. When lactic acid bacteria at a dose of 0.5 or 2 g (wet weight)/kg was orally administered on CCl$_4$-induced liver injury in mice, these bacteria significantly inhibited the increase of plasma alanine transferase and aspartate transferase activities by $17-57\%$ and $57-66\%$ of the $CCI_4$ control group, respectively. These lactic acid bacteria also showed the potent hepatoprotective effect against t-BHP-induced liver injury in mice. The inhibitory effects of these lactic acid bacteria were more potent than that of dimethyl diphenyl bicarboxylate (DDB), which have been used as a commercial hepatoprotective agent. Among these lactic acid bacteria, L. acidophilus CSG exhibited the most potent hepatoprotective effect. Based on these findings, we insist that an inhibitor of $\beta$-glucuronidase production in intestine, such as lactic acid bacteria, may be hepatoprotective.