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

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.