Evaluation of Immunostimulatory and Antimicrobial Activities of Probiotic Bacteria Isolates from Commercially Available Yoghurts | Biomedgrid

Probiotics provide numerous health benefits that transcend basic nutritional requirements of our daily meal. The focus of this study was to evaluate the immunostimulatory capability of probiotic bacteria isolated from commercially available yoghurts in Awka metropolis. Thirty cans of different branded yoghurts were purchased from local supermarkets and prepared using standard procedures. The samples were transferred into De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) broth and incubated anaerobically for 24 h. The isolates were identified using biochemical tests. Immunostimulatory activities were evaluated using cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppression and delay hypersensitivity reaction techniques. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using agar diffusion assay. The effects of pH and temperature on the growth of isolated Lactobacillus spp. as well as their ability to tolerate bile salt were assayed. The immunological study showed that the test isolates were able to significantly boost the white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, neutrophil count, eosinophil count and monocyte count after treatment and induced inflammatory response in the laboratory animals used for the study. All isolated Lactobacillus spp. has inhibitory effect on E coli, S aureus and P aeruginosa. Bile salts incorporated in the bacteria cultures were effective on bacterial viability. The probiotic bacteria isolated in commercially available yoghurts have health beneficial effects, which include immunostimulatory and antibacterial activities