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The cultivable microflora of the intestines in rat have been examined after exogenous administration of tannic acid, a major dietary component found in plant materials. Normal counts of total bacteria, total coliform and Escherichia coli per mg of faeces in experimental rats were 6.1)/10 3 , 1.7)/10 3 and 1.5)/10 3 respectively, present at a ratio of 4:1.1:1. Ingestion of tannic acid (at a dose of 45 mg per 100g of body weight per day) into male albino rats reduced the bacterial population in 6 days and after that their number increased. The body weight of the animals decreased by about 22% after 21 days of tannic acid treatment. The changes in microbial population indicate that tannic acid can impair the ecological balance of gastrointestinal flora.

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