Bile salt deconjugation and in-vitro cholesterol-lowering ability of probiotic bacteria isolated from buttermilk

ABSTRACT

Hypercholesterolemia prevalence is increasing in most countries and it increases the risk of microvascular and cardiovascular diseases. Currently available treatments include the use of statins, fibrates, and bile acid sequesters. These treatments carry a risk of severe side effects on the host. Probiotics are well documented for their cholesterol-lowering abilities. The present study has demonstrated the screening of probiotic bacteria from buttermilk samples, their ability to deconjugate bile salts, and cholesterol-lowering ability in the media. Bile salt hydrolysis by the isolates was evaluated by direct plate assay, thin layer chromatography, and cholic acid estimation. The highest amount of cholesterol was removed in the presence of 0.3% bile. Co-precipitation of cholesterol along with cholic acid was also observed. Three isolates considered potent based on their performance through all the tests were identified by 16S- rRNA gene sequencing as PGB01- Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, PGB02- Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and PGB05- Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. tolerans.

KEYWORDS:

• Bile salt hydrolase
• cholesterol removal
• hypercholesterolemia
• lactobacilli
• probiotics

Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to Sheth M. C. College of Dairy Science, Anand, India for providing Lactobacillus helveticus MTCC5463, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus cultures. We are highly grateful to the Post Graduate Department of Biosciences, Sardar Patel University for providing various facilities.

Author contributions

HAD and RBS designed the study outline. Experimental work was carried out by HAD. Data analysis and interpretation, and manuscript finalization were done by VRT and RBS.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article. Additional information can be obtained on request (Source contact: [email protected]).

Additional information

Funding

The monthly stipend of Mr. Hiren Dhameliya was supported by Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat under SHODH fellowship program (Ref. no: 201901640035).