Assessment of Potential Probiotic Bacteria Isolated from Breast Milk

Abstract

Breast milk is an important factor in the initiation, development and composition of the neonatal gut microbiota. Human breast milk contains potentially probiotic lactic acid bacteria. For these reasons, the authors isolatedlactic acid bacteria from milk of healthy mothers. A total of two hundred and fifty strains of lactic acid bacteria from the genera Lactococcus, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus, islolated from Egyptian Human milk from different areas in Sinai were identified at genus level using physiological characteristics. Eighteen isolates with functional characteristics typical to probiotic bacteria were identified at species and subspecies level by both classical phenotypic and API 50 CHL kits and API 20 STRP. 5 of them belonged to lactic acid cocci and others were referred to genus Lactobacillus. Among lactic acid cocci Enterococcus facium (3 strains) were dominant followed by Lactococcus lactis (2 strains). Concerning genus Lactobacillus, L. plantarum and L. rhamonusus (4 strains for each) was the most common species followed by L. casei and L. fermentum (2 stains for each) while L. acidophilus comprising (1 strain) of lactobacilli isolates. All these strains were found to resistant to both low pH and 2% bile salt. Moreover, all cultures exhibited a broad spectrum of antagonistic activity against spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. The prebiotic potential of green bell pepper, artichoke leaves and green tea extracts were assessed. Results showed that all of them had a stimulating effect on growth and viability of all tested probiotic bacteria.