Does Probiotic Yeast Act as Antigenotoxin?

Malda Maija Toma*, Jekabs Raipulis, Inta Kalnina and Reinis Rutkis

Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Latvia, Kronvalda boulv. 4, LV-1586, Riga, Latvia

Article history:
Received August 31, 2004
Accepted June 28, 2005

Key words:
Saccharomyces boulardii, genotoxins, SOS chromotest, antigenotoxicity

Summary:
The effect of probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii on genotoxicity induced by the well-known mutagen 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4-NQO), as well as antibacterial (furazolidone) and antibiotic (nalidixic acid) drugs, has been studied using the short-term bacterial assay, SOS chromotest, with Escherichia coli PQ 37 as the test organism. It has been shown that S. boulardii possesses antigenotoxic activity, revealed by SOS chromotest, when coincubated with these genotoxins. A weaker antigenotoxic activity against the same compounds was observed with S. carlsbergensis, too.

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