Evidence for Probiotic Properties of Lactobacillus ferm entum and Lactobacillus reuteri Isolated from Human Breast Milk

The present study was conducted to determine the probiotic properties of Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus reuteri isolated from human breast milk. The samples were inoculated with MRS medium and incubated for 48 hrs at 37°C under anaerobic incubation. The identification of the culture was based on characteristic of Lactobacilli as presented in the Bersey’s Mannual of Determinative Bacteriology, carrying out morphology, gram stain, catalase, oxidase and other biochemical tests, growth at 150, 37°C and 45°C and fermentation of different carbon sources. Selection of the strain included various criteria such as agreement with biosafety aspects, antibiotic susceptibility test, tolerance to low pH, bile and NaCl concentration, temperature, Hemolytic activity and antimicrobial activity. This result suggests that these two strains are favorable for use as probiotics. It should be suitable strains for probiotic use of human being and animals. L. fermentum had high probiotic activity when compared to L.reuteri.