Characterization and Probiotic Assessment of Lactobacillus Isolates from Saurashtra, Gujarat, India

The Saurashtra region in Gujarat, India has a population that relies on traditional fermented foods and is believed to contain beneficial microbes. However, the effectiveness of probiotic bacteria may vary depending on the individual gut microbiota and dietary habits. Therefore, there is a need to explore native microorganisms with abundant probiotic potential. The isolated bacteria demonstrated resilience against bile salts, intestinal and stomach juices, and pH levels of 2.0–3.0. Exopolysaccharide synthesis ranged from 700 to 900 mg/L. Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus NHC4 (PP893081) presented cell counts at pH 2.0 (5.15 log CFU/mL) and pH 3.0 (5.87 log CFU/mL), whereas Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NSD4 (PP911495) presented cell counts at pH 2.0 (5.53 log CFU/mL) and pH 3.0 (6.77 log CFU/mL). L. paracasei NSD4 displayed auto-aggregation of 84.4% and cell surface hydrophobicity of 70.27%. The antibacterial activity and coaggregation efficacy against Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis were also examined. These native Lactobacillus isolates exhibit high probiotic potential, making them ideal for creating modern fermented foods rich in probiotic properties and efficacy.