Antioxidant and stress-adaptive properties of putative probiotic bacteria in Pakistani fermented buffalo milk

This study highlights South Asian buffalo milk as a reservoir of both conventional LAB and novel non-LAB strains with dual stress tolerance and antioxidant functionality. <i>L. plantarum</i> Y₁ and <i>L. brevis</i> Cc₃ emerge as prime candidates for developing culturally tailored functional foods to address regional nutritional challenges. The resilience of non-traditional isolates such as <i>B. dendritiformis</i> Y₉ challenges existing probiotic taxonomical biases, suggesting broader microbial resources for gut-health innovations. These findings advocate for integrating regionally adapted probiotics into functional diets to enhance gastrointestinal health and oxidative stress mitigation in South Asian populations.