Differences among Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains isolated from different fermented foods in their potential cholesterol-lowering properties

Elevated levels of plasma low -density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol have been associated with incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Animal studies and clinical trials have demonstrated that several Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains are effective in reducing plasma LDL cholesterol levels. However, it is unclear whether the habitats from which Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains are isolated have an impact on their potential cholesterol -lowering properties. In this study, 107 Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains isolated from three habitats (20 isolated from fermented dairy products, 23 from fermented grape must, and 64 from fermented vegetables) were compared for their potential cholesterol -lowering properties on an origin scale. These properties included acid resistance, bile tolerance, surface hydrophobicity, and bile acid deconjugation. The results showed that the fermented dairy products -derived strains were the most bile -tolerant and hydrophobic, the fermented grape must -derived strains were the most effective at hydrolyzing conjugated bile acids, and the fermented vegetables -derived strains were the most acid -resistant. Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) genes were detected in 97.2% of the total strains and 100% of the fermented dairy products -derived strains by standard PCR with agarose gel electrophoresis detection. In the 104 bsh genes -containing strains, 92.3% had detectable BSH activity (n = 96). These BSH-positive strains exhibited a greater substrate preference for glycine-conjugated bile acids than taurineconjugated bile acids. Overall, the fermented dairy products -derived strains appeared to have greater cholesterollowering potential than those isolated from the other two habitats. This study provided valuable information regarding where to obtain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains with greater cholesterol -lowering potential.