Subarna Thapa, Kirti Rai, Suraj Mistri, Pratim Saren, Sourav Sarkar, Ranabir Sahu, Soumen Bhattacharjee, Kriti Ghatani
Hyperlipidemia remains a significant global health concern, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to isolate Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from Gundruk and Kinema, the traditional fermented foods of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim and to screen them for their in vitro cholesterol lowering ability. Isolates demonstrating high cholesterol reduction were further characterized for probiotic attributes, molecularly identified and evaluated for their hypolipidemic efficacy in vivo. Pediococcus pentosaceus GWS5 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KD11 exhibited the greatest cholesterol reduction (75.46% and 82.68%, respectively). Both strains qualified as a promising probiotic candidate since they were able to survive at pH 3, tolerate different bile concentrations, possessed BSH activity as well as factors promoting adhesion such as, cell surface hydrophobicity and autoaggregation activity. In addition to being safe for use, it exhibited a strong antagonistic ability against many foodborne pathogens. In vivo trials conducted on high-fat diet induced Wistar rats suggested that the supplementation of these strains significantly (p < 0.05) lowered the serum TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels, while increasing the HDL-C level. Similarly, the antioxidant (reduced glutathione and catalase) levels in the probiotic supplemented rats increased in contrast to the model control group. These findings indicate that P. pentosaceus GWS5 and L. plantarum KD11 might serve as a promising probiotic candidate with a potential role in ameliorating hyperlipidemia.