Xenia Elika N Bucao^1,2 , Christian Angelo R Rafael², Sheja Ryz Uoiea I Calamayan², Ruth Valerie S Dagdagan², Kristian Gay D Beltran¹, Ma Danica Ines-Ramil¹, Angelica May DC Mendoza^1,2, Philip Joshua S Aliga², Dionisio S Bucao³, Rhian Jaymar D Ramil^1,2, Shirley C. Agrupis⁴

¹Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences,; ²Functional Foods and Nutraceutical Research Center, Mariano Marcos State University,; ³Research Directorate, Mariano Marcos State University, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte,; ⁴Commission on Higher Education, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.

For correspondence:-  Xenia Bucao   Email: xnbucao@mmsu.edu.ph   Tel:+63-9764609044

Received: 22 January 2026        Accepted: 15 August 2026        Published: 31 August 2026

Citation: Bucao XE, Rafael CA, Calamayan SR, Dagdagan RV, Beltran KG, Ines-Ramil M, et al. Probiotic potential, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from indigenous food plants in Ilocos Norte, Philippines. Trop J Pharm Res 2026; 25(8):1061-1070 doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v25i8.3

© 2026 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the in vitro probiotic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from Philippine indigenous food plants (IFPs) as potential sources of non-dairy probiotic strains. Methods: Four isolates were assessed for gastrointestinal tolerance across a pH range of 2.0 – 8.0 and at bile concentrations of 0.5 and 1 %. Cell-surface characteristics, such as auto-aggregation and cell surface hydrophobicity, were measured. Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity was qualitatively evaluated. Ethyl acetate fractions of cell-free supernatants (EAFPs) were tested for antioxidant capacity using the DPPH assay and for antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results: Lentilactobacillus hilgardii DSB22 showed the highest survival at pH 2 (50.22 ± 3.32 %) and 1 % bile (80.50 ± 4.37 %) after 6 h. It also demonstrated superior auto-aggregation (79.35 ± 0.56 %) and cell surface hydrophobicity (63.36 ± 0.40 %). All isolates were BSH positive. The EAFP of L. hilgardii DSB22 exhibited strong radical scavenging capacity (73.51 ± 0.58 %) and the greatest antimicrobial effect, especially against S. aureus (18.33 ± 2.89 mm). Conclusion: Lentilactobacillus hilgardii DSB22 exhibits robust probiotic potential, and IFPs represent valuable sources of non-dairy probiotic strains.

Keywords: Antimicrobial, Auto-aggregation, Bile tolerance, Indigenous food plants, In vitro, Lactobacillus, Probiotics

Impact Factor
Thompson Reuters (ISI): 0.6 (2023)
H-5 index (Google Scholar): 49 (2023)