Indian Journal of Agricultural Biochemistry

The study was aimed to evaluate the cholesterol lowering property and probiotic attributes of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from indigenous fermented milk products of Yak from the eastern region of Sikkim Himalayas. A total of 7 indigenous LAB were screened for putative probiotic features namely hypocholesterolaemic effect, bile salt hydrolase activity, acid tolerance and cell surface hydrophobocity. The possible mechanisms of cholesterol lowering like bile salt hydrolase (BSH) enzyme activity, bile acid deconjugation, cholesterol co-precipitation and cholesterol incorporation were studied. Isolates were subjected to direct plate assay in MRS agar plates supplemented with 0.5% (w/v) taurodeoxycholic acid sodium salt for the presence of bile salt hydrolase (BSH) enzyme. Screening revealed Lactobacillus paraplantarum YD11S and Lactobacillus plantarum YD5S showing bile acid deconjugation while co-precipitation was observed in YY1 Enterococcus lactis and Lactobacillus pentosus YD8S as the cholesterol lowering mechanism. Lactobacillus plantarum YD9S showed good bile acid deconjugation and co-precipation. Enterococcus faecium YHC12 was BSH-ve and showed cellular incorporation to be its mechanism of cholesterol lowering.