probiotics

1. Dr K Preethi
Final yr pg
Dept of pharmacology

2. Contents
 Definition
 History
 Mechanism of action
 Probiotic strains
 Foods containing probiotics
 Clinical implications of probiotics
 Preparations
 Prebiotics
 Symbiotics

3. Definition
 According to WHO, 2001 “probiotics are
live microorganisms which, when
administered in adequate amounts
confer a health benefit on the host”.
 Pro – promoting
 Biotic - life

4. History
 In 1907 , Russian Noble prize winner, ELIE
METCHINKOFF first conceptualised
probiotics
 In 1930s in Japan, MINORU SHIROTA
developed YAKULT
 Probiotic term coined by LILLY &
STILLWELL in 1965

5. Mechanism of action
 Probiotics produce acidic, lactic &
propionic acid lowers the intestinal pH &
inhibit the growth of certain pathogenic
bacteria like E.coli
 Prevent adhesion and colonization of
pathogenic organisms
 Produce immunologic response –
increase IgA production, cytokine
modulation

6.  Helps absorption of minerals
 Produce wide range of antimicrobial
substances like acidophilin, bacteriocin
 Enhance the intestinal barrier function

7. Probiotic strains
 Lactobacillus species
L. acidophillus
L. plantarum
L. casei rhamnosus
L. brevis
L. bulgaricus

8.  Bifidobacterium species
B. adolescentis
B. bifidum
B. infantis
B. breve

9. Others
 Streptococcus thermophilus
 Enteterococcus faecium
 Lactococcus lactis
 Yeast – Saccharomyces boulardii

10. Foods containing probiotics
 Yakult dairy drink
 Milk – soya milk,
 Tofu
 Milk products – sour cream, butter milk,
yogurt
 Fermented Indian foods like – idly, dosa,
kadhi, dhoklas

12. Clinical implications
 1) Diarrhoea:
A) Treatment & prevention of acute diarrhoea:
- L. reuteri, L. rhamnosus, L. casei
Saccharomyces boulardii
B) Antibiotic associated diarrhoea
- Saccharomyces boulardii,
L. rhamnosus
- L. casei DN – 114001 – effective in
hospitalized adult patients

13. 2) Inflammatory bowel disease:
- pouchitis, ulcerative colitis
3) Irritable bowel syndrome
- reduction in abdominal bloating and flatulence
- L. reuteri may improve colicky symptoms
4) Colon cancer
5) Lactose malabsorption
- Streptococcus thermophillus and L. delbrueckii
- prodution of β- D galactosidase enzymes that
breakdown lactose

14. 6) Eradication of H. pylori
7) Allergy
- decreases serum IgE levels
- reduction of Th2 cytokine response
8) Lowering cholesterol
9) Bp reduction: related to the ACE
inhibitor like peptides produced during
fermentation

15.  10) Necrotising enterocolitis in preterm
infants if given in early life decreases the
severity and incidence
 11) Hypo response to food allergens
 12) Bacterial vaginosis
 13) Decreases atopic dermatitis in
neonates if given in pregnancy and early
life of neonate

16. Prepartions
 Tablets , capsules, powders
 Sporlac - 60 million spores of lactic acid
bacillus
 Econorm - Saccharomyces boulardii 250
mg per sachet
 Bifilac – lactobacillus 50 million spores
sterptococcus faecalis 30 million
clostridium butyricum 2 million
bacillus mesenteric 1 million per
sachets/capule

17.  Bifilin : lactobacillus species 1 billion
bifidobacterium bifidum 1 billion
streptococcus thermophillus 0.25B
saccharomyces boulardii 0.25 billion
 Actigut: lactobacillus species
bifidobacterium species
 Enterogermina: Bacillus clausii 2 billion
spores 5ml oral ampule

18. Prebiotcs
 Nondigestable dietary substances
 Increases the no. of beneficial anaerobic
bacteria and decreases the pathogenic
microorganisms
 Metabolic effects - Produce short chain
fatty acids, absorption of ions( Ca, Fe,
Mg)
 Enhances host immunity ( IgA
production, cytokine modulation)

19.  Commonly known prebiotics are
oligofructose – wheat, onions, bananas, garlic
inulin
lactulose
breastmilk oligosaccharides
galacto oligosaccharides

20.  Lactulose – a synthetic disaccharide
used as a drug for the treatment of
hepatic encephalopathy and
constipation
 Symbiotics
probiotic + prebiotioc

21. References
 Probiotics and prebiotics, World
Gastroenterology Organisation Practise
Guidelines, May,2008.
 The pharmacological basics for
therapeutics, Goodman & Gillman, 12th
edition
 Essentials of medical pharmacology –
K. D. Tripathi, 7th edition
 Pharmacology & pharmacotherapeutics
– R. D. Satoskar, 23rd edition

22. THANK YOU