Probiotic organisms are live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that are similar to beneficial microorganism found in the human gut. They are also called 'friendly bacteria or good bacteria'. Probiotics are available to consumers mainly in the form of dietary supplements and foods.
"Isolated in 1990 and tested in the last 20 years, the first two indigenous probiotic cultures from India- Lactobacillus helveticus MTCC 5463 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus MTCC 5462-- are now available to the industry for probiotic products manufacture," AAU Vice Chancellor A M Sheikh said.
Seth Mansukhlal Chhaganlal (SMC) College of Dairy Science, working under AAU, has deposited the two Indian probiotic cultures as Indian patent deposits at the Institute of Microbial Technology in Chandigarh.
Probiotic culture is a cluster of micro-organisms that have the ability to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the human digestive tract. When taken as dietary supplements, probiotic cultures increase the amount of healthy gut flora that are naturally present in the stomach and large intestines.
Currently, such cultures are largely imported from Denmark by the dairy and other food industry of India to manufacture probiotic products. Its estimated market size is around USD 20 million in the country.
"Using these cultures, we have already filed an Indian patent for a process to manufacture a herbal probiotic fermented milk product 'lassi' also having herbal content- safed Musli," Head of Dairy Microbiology Department at SMC Dr J B Prajapati told PTI.
Lassi is further being tested by the SMC to check its potential in reducing the cholesterol level in humans.
"Volunteers have been recruited to conduct clinical trials of the probiotic lassi with a view to check its potential to reduce cholesterol levels in humans," he said. (More)
