This study collected different probiotic isolates from animal and plant sources to evaluate the
bile-salt hydrolase activity of probiotics in vitro. The deconjugation potential of
bile acid was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. HepG2 cells were cultured with probiotic strains with high BSH activity. The
triglyceride (TG) and
apolipoprotein B (
apo B) secretion by HepG2 cells were evaluated. Our results show that the BSH activity and
bile-acid deconjugation abilities of Pediococcus acidilactici NBHK002, Bifidobacterium adolescentis NBHK006, Lactobacillus rhamnosus NBHK007, and Lactobacillus acidophilus NBHK008 were higher than those of the other probiotic strains. The
cholesterol concentration in
cholesterol micelles was reduced within 24 h. NBHK007 reduced the TG secretion by 100% after 48 h of incubation. NBHK002, NBHK006, and NBHK007 could reduce
apo B secretion by 33%, 38%, and 39%, respectively, after 24 h of incubation. The product PROBIO
S-23 produced a greater decrease in the total concentration of
cholesterol,
low-density lipoprotein, TG, and
thiobarbituric acid reactive substance in the serum or livers of hamsters with
hypercholesterolemia compared with that of hamsters fed with a high-fat and high-
cholesterol diet. These results show that the three probiotic strains of lactic acid bacteria are better candidates for reducing the risk of
cardiovascular disease.