Journal of Environmental Biology

In vitro development of resistance to arsenite and chromium-VI in

Lactobacilli strains as perspective attenuation of

gastrointestinal disorder

Author Details

Raj K. Upreti

(Corresponding author)

Biomembrane Toxicology Division, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, M.G. Marg,

Lucknow - 226 001, India

e-mail: upretirk@rediffmail.com

Vartika Sinha

Biomembrane Toxicology Division, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, M.G. Marg,

Lucknow - 226 001, India

Ritesh Mishra

Biomembrane Toxicology Division, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, M.G. Marg,

Lucknow - 226 001, India

Ambrose? Kannan?

Biomembrane Toxicology Division, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, M.G. Marg,

Lucknow - 226 001, India

Publication Data

Paper received:

01 February 2010

Revised received:

14 May 2010

Accepted:

18 May 2010

Abstract

Inadvertent intake of inorganic arsenic and chromium through drinking water and food causing their toxic insults is a major health problem. Intestinal bacteria including Lactobacilli play important regulatory roles on intestinal homeostasis, and their loss is known to cause gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Probiotic Lactobacilli resistance to arsenite and chromium-VI could be an important factor for the perspective attenuation of GI-disorders caused by these toxic metals/metalloid. In the present study resistance of arsenite (up to 32 ppm), Cr-VI (up to 64? ppm), and arsenite plus Cr-VI (32 ppm each) were developed under in vitro condition following chronological chronic exposures in Lactobacilli strains. Comparative study of biochemical parameters such as membrane transport enzymes and structural constituents; dehydrogenase and esterase activity tests, which are respective indicators for respiratory and energy producing processes, and the general heterotrophic activity of cells, of resistant strains showed similarities with their respective normal parent strains. The resistant strains were also found to be sensitive to antibiotics. Findings indicate that these resistant probiotic Lactobacilli would be useful in the prophylactic interventions of arsenic and chromium GI-toxicity.??

Key words

Arsenic, Chromium, GI toxicity, Lactobacilli, In vitro resistance, Probiotics

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