Efficacy of Potentially Probiotic Fruit-Derived Lactobacillus fermentum, L. paracasei and L. plantarum to Remove Aflatoxin M In Vitro

This study evaluated the efficacy of potentially probiotic fruit-derived Lactobacillus isolates, namely, L. paracasei 108, L. plantarum 49, and L. fermentum 111, to remove aflatoxin M (AFM) from a phosphate buffer solution (PBS; spiked with 0.15 µg/mL AFM). The efficacy of examined isolates (approximately 10 cfu/mL) as viable and non-viable cells (heat-killed; 100 C, 1 h) to remove AFM was measured after 1 and 24 h at 37 C. The recovery of AFM bound to bacterial cells after washing with PBS was also evaluated. Levels of AFM in PBS were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography. Viable and non-viable cells of all examined isolates were capable of removing AFM 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 Lactobacillus isolates had similar abilities to remove AFM. Only L. paracasei 108 showed higher values of AFM removal after 24 h for both viable and non-viable cells. Percentage values of recovered AFM from viable and non-viable cells after washing were in the range of 13.4–60.6% and 10.9–47.9%, respectively. L. plantarum 49 showed the highest AFM retention capacity after washing. L. paracasei 108, L. plantarum 49, and L. fermentum 111 could have potential application to reduce AFM 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 AFM.