Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are some of the most widely used drugs due to their anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic pharmacological effects. Gastrointestinal side effects are some of the most severe and frequent side effects of NSAIDs. These depend on the balance of the gut microbiome, the abundance of Gram-negative bacteria, and the amount of lipopolysaccharide released. Therefore, restoring or improving gut bacteria balance with probiotic supplements could prove to be an adjuvant therapy against mild NSAID-induced enteropathy. Twenty-five Wistar albino male rats were divided into five groups. The negative control group was administered carboxymethylcellulose and the positive control group diclofenac (DIC), 8 mg/kg for 7 days, which represented the enteropathy model. Treatment groups consisted of a combination of pro-biotic spores (MSB), amino acids and immunoglobulins supplement (MM), which were also administered for 7 days. We analyzed hepatic injury markers (AST, ALT) and creatinine, and inflammatory markers, IL-6, TNF-α, PGE2, iNOS, as well as total antioxidant capacity. The results obtained in the present study suggest that the modulation of the intestinal microbiota by administration of probiotics (Bacillus spores), alone or in combination with immunoglobulins and amino acids, represents an attractive therapy for the prevention of NSAID-induced enteropathy.
Keywords: NSAIDs; enteropathy; inflammation; microbiota; probiotics.