Laxative Effects of Triple-Fermented Barley Extracts (Fbe) in Normal Rats

Objective

The purpose of this study was to observe the possible laxative effects of a triple-fermented barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) extract (FBe) obtained by saccharification and by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Weissella cibaria in normal rats.

Methods

Forty rats (8 rats in five groups) were selected and used after 10 d of acclimatization. FBe at concentrations of 100, 200, or 300 mg/kg was orally administered once a day for 15 d, and the changes in fecal parameters, gastrointestinal transit ratio, fecal mucus content, and colonic mucosa histology, were observed in normal rats. The laxative effects of FBe were compared against those of sodium picosulfate.

Results

By assessing the key parameters for laxative effects in rats, the present study demonstrated that oral administration of 200 and 300 mg/kg FBe showed favorable laxative effects, mediated by increases in gastrointestinal motility. However, restricted effects were observed when using 100 mg/kg FBe, at least under the experimental conditions presented here.

Conclusion

Based on these results, we conclude that FBe is promising as a new potent laxative agent or as an ingredient in functional foods, with low toxicity at a dose level of 200 mg/kg in normal rats.