Three lactic acid bacteria with anti-obesity properties: In vitro screening and probiotic assessment

The worldwide obesity epidemic has imposed human being a huge burden and attention had been drawn to manipulating the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to improve obesity symptoms. In this study, a more comprehensive and reliable in vitro method was established to screen LAB with greater potential against obesity. Firstly, twenty-eight human feces-derived LAB strains were selected by assessing bile salt-acid tolerance and cholesterol lowering capacity. Subsequently, the triglyceride lowering capacity, bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity, α-glucosidase activity inhibition capacity and Enterobacter cloacae (E. cloacae) growth inhibition capacity were tested for further evaluating the anti-obesity properties of LAB strains. Principal component analysis (PCA) of these results indicated that Limosilactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) NCUH003, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) NCUH046 and Limosilactobacillus fermentum (L. fermentum) NCUH068 exhibited favorable anti-obesity properties. Besides, the LAB displayed good gastrointestinal adaptability and antioxidant activity but no hemolytic activity, and they were sensitive to various antibiotics. These results indicated that L. reuteri NCUH003, L. plantarum NCUH046 and L. fermentum NCUH068 are potential for application in obesity treatment.