In vitro characterization of probiotic properties of isolated and grown co-cultures on halophyte-based substrate

Rudnyckyj, Stanislav (author), Zhytniakivska, Olha (author), Hedegaard Thomsen, Mette (author), Čukajne, Tjaša (author), Bogovič Matijašić, Bojana (author), Mohar Lorbeg, Petra (author)

Probiotics are increasingly recognized for their health-promoting effects, yet their performance in unconventional fer mentation systems such as halophyte-based substrates remains poorly understood. Halophytes, salt-tolerant plants rich in phenolics and other bioactive compounds, impose selective pressures that may favor robust and stress-tolerant microor ganisms. In this study, we assessed the probiotic potential of selected lactic acid bacteria and yeast strains, including Lac tococcus (L.) lactis, Bacillus (B.) coagulans ATCC 7050, Saccharomyces (S.) cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces (K.) marxianus DSM 7238, and Cyberlindnera (C.) jadinii DSM 2361 and DSM 70,163, cultivated on halophyte hydrolysates. In addition, newly isolated strains from halophyte biomass, Lactiplantibacillus (Lpl.) plantarum, Levilactobacillus (Lev.) brevis, and Pichia (P.) fermentans, were bioprospected for their probiotic potential and robustness against relevant environmental stressors. Strains were assessed for viability, tolerance to NaCl and phenol, survival under simulated gastrointestinal condi tions, cell surface properties (hydrophobicity, autoaggregation, biofilm formation), antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial effects. Results revealed great variability among tested strains. Lpl. plantarum and L. lactis demonstrated high salt (> 70% survivability at 5% NaCl) and phenol tolerance (> 80% survivability at 0.3% phenol), strong survivability in simulated digestion (up to ~ 30% survival for Lpl. plantarum and < 10% for L. lactis), and notable antimicrobial activity against up to three tested pathogens, as well as antioxidant activity (up to ~ 55% DPPH scavenging). K. marxianus exhibited high stress tolerance, enhanced antioxidant capacity (up to ~ 70% DPPH scavenging), high survivability after simulated digestion (> 100%), and inhibition of several pathogens. Conversely, B. coagulans showed broad antibiotic resistance, low gastrointestinal survivability (< 5%), and poor growth in halophyte-based media. Overall, Lpl. plantarum and K. marxianus emerged as the most promising candidates for probiotic development and biotechnological applications. These findings highlight halophyte biomass as a selective substrate that favors resilient strains with desirable probiotic traits, supporting its potential in developing sustainable, plant-based fermentation systems.

• Language: English
• Keywords: potential probiotics, yeast, lactic acid bacteria, bioprospecting, halophytes
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 09.03.2026
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str. 455–474
• Numbering: Vol. 29
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-181765
• UDC: 579
• ISSN on article: 1618-1905
• DOI: 10.1007/s10123-026-00786-4
• COBISS.SI-ID: 271155203
• Publication date in RUL: 15.04.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: International microbiology
• Shortened title: Int. microbiol.
• Publisher: Viguera, Springer
• ISSN: 1618-1905
• COBISS.SI-ID: 512480281

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: mikrobiologija, probiotiki, halofiti, substrat, in vitro karakterizacija

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Project number: 101084651
• Name: Improving GreeN Innovation for the blue revoluTION: new tools and opportunities for a more sustainable animal farming
• Acronym: IGNITION