SELECTION OF NEW LACTOBACILLI STRAINS WITH POTENTIALLY PROBIOTIC PROPERTIES

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest among food industry producers for functional foods. In this context, the study aims to isolate new lactic acid bacteria strains with probiotic potential that could further be used to obtain valuable metabiotics with good technological potential and health benefits. In the current study, twenty-nine newly LAB strains were isolated from various natural sources, including artisanal cultures (like, kefir grains and kombucha membrane), and selected through fermentation potential on unconventional plant-base substrates, consisting red lentils flour, red potato peel powder, and okara. The strains identified using 16S rDNA sequencing, as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (encoded BL13, BL80, BL87) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (encoded BL21) were further screened considering their in vitro probiotic properties. The safety assessment evaluation highlighted that Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (BL13) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (BL21) selected as performant strains have antimicrobial potential against Escherichia coli andStaphylococcus aureus, being also susceptible to tetracycline, chloramphenicol and ampicillin. Furthermore, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (encoded BL21) proved good adhesion properties on the HT-29 cell line. These strains are new promising probiotic starter cultures candidates with approachable potential to be used for obtaining functional food and ingredients through fermentation processes, that could offer health benefits.