In vivo AFB detoxification by Lactobacillus fermentum LC5/a with chlorophyll and immunopotentiating activity in albino mice.

The potential Aflatoxin B (AFB) binding Lactobacillus fermentum (LC5/a) was used for in vivo AFB binding and detoxification in presence of chlorophyll (CL) in male Swiss albino mice. Mice were randomly divided into seven groups. The control groups (CL, AFB and LC5/a) received chlorophyll (250 μg/kg b.w), AFB (100 μg/kg b.w) and LC5/a (1 × 10 CFU) for 21 days. The treatment group (AFB+LC5/a) received 100 μl of lyophilized bacterial suspension (1 × 10 CFU) 2 h before the AFB dosage (100μg/kg b.w). The chlorophyll mice group (CL + AFB) was given single oral dose of CL (250 μg/kg b.w) before AFB dosage and last mice group received the combination of CL + LC5/a before the AFB dosage over a period of 21 days. Ballooning of cytoplasm and necrosis in liver was evident in histopathological examination of AFB mice group, while, marked improvement and nearly normal histology were seen in LC5/a and CL treated mice group. The levels of AST, ALT, GST, and SOD were increased in AFB mice group compared to LC5/a and CL treated mice group. Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-12, IL-6 (324, 506, 117.25 pg/ml) were observed in AFB treated mice serum compared to LC5/a and CL treated mice (249.54, 322.01 and 82.35 pg/ml). Thus, Lactobacillus fermentum LC5/a has certainly sequestered AFB from gastrointestinal tract besides regulating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.