Efficacy of Potentially Probiotic Fruit-Derived <i>Lactobacillus fermentum</i>, <i>L. paracasei</i> and <i>L. plantarum</i> to Remove Aflatoxin M₁ In Vitro

• Main Authors: Paloma Oliveira da Cruz, Clarisse Jales de Matos, Yuri Mangueira Nascimento, Josean Fechine Tavares, Evandro Leite de Souza, Hemerson Iury Ferreira Magalhães
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
• Series: Toxins
• Subjects: aflatoxin M₁; detoxification; <i>Lactobacillus</i>; probiotics; binding
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/1/4

This study evaluated the efficacy of potentially probiotic fruit-derived <i>Lactobacillus</i> isolates, namely, <i>L. paracasei</i> 108, <i>L. plantarum</i> 49, and <i>L. fermentum</i> 111, to remove aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) from a phosphate buffer solution (PBS; spiked with 0.15 µg/mL AFM₁). The efficacy of examined isolates (approximately 10⁹ cfu/mL) as viable and non-viable cells (heat-killed; 100 °C, 1 h) to remove AFM₁ was measured after 1 and 24 h at 37 °C. The recovery of AFM₁ bound to bacterial cells after washing with PBS was also evaluated. Levels of AFM₁ in PBS were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography. Viable and non-viable cells of all examined isolates were capable of removing AFM₁ in PBS with removal percentage values in the range of 73.9–80.0% and 72.9–78.7%, respectively. Viable and non-viable cells of all examined <i>Lactobacillus</i> isolates had similar abilities to remove AFM₁. Only <i>L. paracasei</i> 108 showed higher values of AFM₁ removal after 24 h for both viable and non-viable cells. Percentage values of recovered AFM₁ from viable and non-viable cells after washing were in the range of 13.4–60.6% and 10.9–47.9%, respectively. <i>L. plantarum</i> 49 showed the highest AFM₁ retention capacity after washing. <i>L. paracasei</i> 108, <i>L. plantarum</i> 49, and <i>L. fermentum</i> 111 could have potential application to reduce AFM₁ to safe levels in foods and feeds. The cell viability of examined isolates was not a pre-requisite for their capacity to remove and retain AFM₁.