Subacute (28 day) Toxicity of Surfactin C, a Lipopeptide Produced by Bacillus subtilis, in Rats

Abstract

Surfactin C, produced by acillus subtilis isolated from Korean soybean paste, was given to Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes at dose of 500, 1000 or 2000 mg/kg for 28 days. There were no surfactin C-related toxicities in survival, clinical signs, and hematological parameters in the experimental period. The highest dose of surfactin C showed the decrease in body weight gain despite normal food and water consumptions and the increase in relative liver weight. alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were increased in animals administered with surfactin C of 1000 or 2000 mg/kg. Zonal necrosis of hepatocyte around the hepatic vein was observed after administration of the same doses in a dose-dependent manner. In the present study, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of surfactin C was 500 mg/kg following oral administration in rats.