Cholesterol Reduction and Vitamin B12 Production Study on Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus pentosus Isolated from Yoghurt

Abstract

The present study was aimed to test cholesterol reduction and vitamin B₁₂ production abilities of the isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Three LAB isolates, namely, Enterococcus faecium (EF), Enterococcus faecium (Chole1), and Lactobacillus pentosus (7MP), having probiotic potential, were isolated from yoghurt. These isolates were screened for bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity, cholesterol reduction property in MRS broth, and the production of vitamin B₁₂. The present study revealed that the isolate 7MP possesses the highest potential of (48%) cholesterol reduction compared to the other isolates. The isolates EF and Chole1 produced a good amount of (1 ng/mL) vitamin B₁₂. These isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and confirmed by MALD_TOF analysis. Thus, the use of these LAB isolates for yoghurt-making can offer the value addition of lowering cholesterol and vitamin B₁₂ fortification in fermented food.