Characterization of Limosilactobacillus reuteri KGC1901 Newly Isolated from Panax ginseng Root as a Probiotic and Its Safety Assessment

Abstract

In this study, we determined the probiotic properties and safety of Limosilactobacillus reuteri KGC1901 isolated from Korean Panax ginseng root. This strain was identified based on its 16s rRNA sequence, and the absence of genes related to antibiotic resistance and virulence was confirmed through whole genome analysis in terms of safety. Moreover, this strain had no antibiotic resistance to eight antibiotics as proposed by the European Food Safety Authority, did not show hemolytic activity on blood agar, and did not produce biogenic amines. L. reuteri KGC1901 also showed the capability to survive at low pH and in presence of bile salts and sufficiently adhered to HT-29 cells and mucin. The adhesion ability to HT-29 was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining. These results indicated the excellent viability of L. reuteri KGC1901 in the human gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, L. reuteri KGC1901 had antimicrobial activity against Clostridium difficile, and the presence of the reuterin (3-HPA) biosynthetic gene cluster in the genome was revealed. Furthermore, the cell-free supernatant of KGC1901 had DPPH scavenging activity and reduced the nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Based on these results, it was confirmed that L. reuteri KGC1901 derived from ginseng has sufficient potential to be used as a probiotic.