Inhibitory effect on rotavirus by exopolysaccharides extracted from kefir

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the toxicity of exopolysaccharides (EPS) from kefir toward MA104 cells and evaluate the inhibitory effects of kefir EPS on rotavirus infection. The results obtained are summarized as follows: Lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus fermentum, L. acidophilus, L. brevis) and yeasts (Candida kejyr, Cryptococcus albidus, Pichia ohmeri) were isolated and identified from kefir grain and culture. At 1% EPS, the inhibitory effects of EPS on the infection of MA-104 cells using the MTT assay were 72.52±6.48% for human rotavirus (KU), 36.06±7.63% for bovine rotavirus (NCDV), and 81.66±1.11% for porcine rotavirus (OSU). At 1/128% EPS, the effects were 24.98±4.58% for human rotavirus (KU), 4.71+6.16% for bovine rotavirus (NCDV), and 4.05±14.90% forporcine rotavirus (OSU). EPS isolated from kefir have inhibitory effects on rota viruses of various serotypes and rota viruses from different animals.