title: Characterisation of Lactobacillus fermentum SM-7 isolated from koumiss, a potential probiotic bacterium with cholesterol-lowering effects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been demonstrated to have cholesterol-reducing effects in many studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lactobacillus fermentum SM-7 screened from ten LAB strains isolated from koumiss, a fermented milk drink, reduced cholesterol by 66.8%. It also showed acid and bile tolerance as well as antimicrobial activity against pathogenic Escherchia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Lactobacillus fermentum SM-7 cells assimilated 61.5% and co-precipitated and absorbed 38.5% of the cholesterol in the media. Co-precipitation of cholesterol with cholic acid increased rapidly at pH levels below 6. In vivo experiments using L. fermentum SM-7 on artificially induced hyperlipidaemial ICR mice significantly decreased serum total cholesterol and total triglyceride levels, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and atherogenic index (P < 0.01), while serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations did not increase significantly (P > 0.05). The body weight and liver weight/body weight ratio of SM-7 groups were lower than those of mice on a high-cholesterol diet that were not given lactobacilli. There was no bacterial translocation in the liver, spleen or kidney of experimental mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that L. fermentum SM-7 is a potential probiotic bacterium with cholesterol-lowering effects.
authors.affiliation: Life Science and Biotechnology College, Ningbo University, 315211 Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. daodongpan@163.com
authors.forename: Dao Dong
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Xiao Qun
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yu Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D018988:Bacterial Translocation; D001646:Bile; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D019826:Cholic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D043302:Cultured Milk Products / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D052197:Limosilactobacillus fermentum / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009929:Organ Size; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D019826:Cholic Acid