Effect of Levilactobacillus brevis KU15159 on Intestinal Function and Bowel Activity in Loperamide-Induced Constipation in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, with an increasing prevalence. Lactic acid bacteria are known to improve the colon microenvironment; however, the ameliorative effect of Levilactobacillus brevis KU15159 on constipation has not been examined. This study aimed to investigate the effects of L. brevis KU15159 administration on improving intestinal function and defecation activity in an animal model of loperamide-induced constipation. Six-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the normal control, constipation induction (loperamide 4 mg/kg), control drug (loperamide+sodium picosulfate 5 mg/kg), and L. brevis KU15159 (loperamide+L. brevis KU15159 1×1010 CFU/g) groups with corresponding oral treatment for 2 weeks. Compared with the constipation induction group, the L-KU15159 group exhibited significantly improved fecal indices and intestinal transit time (P<0.05) and reduced DNA damage in colon cells and fecal water (P<0.05). Analysis of the plasma oxygen radical absorbance capacity and lipid peroxides (conjugated dienes) showed that the L-KU15159 group significantly reduced levels of oxidative stress and lipid peroxides in the blood (P<0.05). The activities of intestinal harmful enzymes (β-glucosidase, nitroreductase, and β-glucuronidase) were also significantly inhibited in the L-KU15159 group (P<0.05). Therefore, L. brevis KU15159 can be considered a functional food that can improve intestinal function, defecation activity, and constipation through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.