Application of probiotics in the xenobiotic detoxification therapy

The main ways of toxin incorporation to the human organism are: gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, and skin. Thus, bioaccumulation of environmental contaminants in plants, mushrooms and animals, which constitute human foods, is a reason of exposure to many harmful species (heavy metals, radioisotopes and organic toxins). Farm animals and cultivated plants are also frequently exposed to a high level of pollutants [32]. Also, different plant species, occupying different habitats, accumulate heavy metals to an unequal extent [11]. Therefore, exposure to a contaminant also depends on climate and dietary customs and not only on its concentration in the soil. Local and temporary intoxication may also be due to a momentary contamination, as in case of Cs fallout [9]. There are no good treatment procedures to avoid transfer and accumulation of the food contaminants in human organisms, and in many regions, contaminated food is still a major problem, which affects people’s health [22]. It seems that apart of severe incidents, chronic intoxications have huge impact on human health and life quality [17]. A substance, which is incorporated to the organism via gastrointestinal tract, blocks important protein domains, eliminates bioelements from the organism and may also lock up active conformation of biomolecules. In case of radionuclides, ionizing radiation, emitted by them, may also cause somatic and genetic damage [37]. The growing interest in mammalian symbiotic microflora has resulted in many attempts to apply probiotic therapy in the treatment of numerous diseases. For years, microorganisms have been added to various foods, e.g. yoghurt, kefir or cheese, to improve technological processes or just because of their nutritional value. The beneficial role of probiotics has been a subject of several review papers [6, Application of probiotics in the xenobiotic detoxification therapy Pawel L. Urban, Robert T. Kuthan