The probiotic role of Lactobacillus plantarum in reducing risks associated with cardiovascular disease

Summary A novel strain of Lactobacillus plantarum DMDL 9010 ( CGMCC No. 5172) was isolated from naturally fermented mustard. The potential cholesterol reduction effects of this strain were investigated using an in vivo model. The results showed that L. plantarum DMDL 9010 at a dose of 10 9 cells per day significantly reduced ( P ≤ 0.05) serum total cholesterol ( TC ), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol content ( LDL ‐C) levels and atherosclerosis index ( AI ) by 23.03%, 28.00% and 34.03%, respectively, while L. plantarum DMDL 9010 did not exhibit a significant effect on reducing serum triglycerides ( TG ) and increasing the serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol content ( HDL ‐C) in experimental rats ( P > 0.05). The morphological and pathological changes in the liver illustrated that L. plantarum DMDL 9010 protected the rats against hepatocyte steatosis. Additionally, a high dose of L. plantarum DMDL 9010 was shown to exhibit a positive cholesterol‐lowering effect through decreasing the liver cholesterol (−33.20%) and triglyceride (−40.86%) levels, and increasing significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) faecal cholesterol (+31.07%) and bile acid excretion (+70.18%). The results demonstrated that L. plantarum DMDL 9010 acted in a dose‐dependent way to decrease serum and total hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride and enhance faecal excretion of bile acids. In conclusion, these findings suggest that L. plantarum DMDL 9010 has potential to be explored as a probiotic for hypercholesterolaemic preventive and therapeutic.