ABSTRACT
The potential effect of Lactobacillus plantarum as a probiotic bacteria in controlling hypercholesterolaemia was studied. Lactobacillus plantarum was supplied in a single form or in mixture with Lactobacillus paracasei or other strains of bacteria. Rats consumed these microorganisms daily for 42 days. Eighty eight rats were divided into eleven homogeneous groups, each group consists of eight male albino rats, Sprague Dawley strain, weight ranged from [105-117.5 g]. All groups were fed on basal diet supplemented with high fat, high cholesterol [15% saturated fat + 1% cholesterol + 0.2% bile salt] except group [1] which fed on high fat only [15% saturated fat]. Results obtained revealed that the mixed groups had a significant decreasing effect on gain in body weight and feed intake/day higher than single groups. While they had a higher significant decreasing effect on total lipid, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol of serum and liver, also had a higher significant increasing effect on serum HDL-C than the single groups. These results indicate that Lactobacillus plantarum had a high significant decreasing effect and when mixed with the other strains to produce mixed groups [G8-G11]; increased their hypocholesterolaemia effect more than these strains in a single form [G4-G7]. It could be concluded that the supplementation with different probiotic bacteria as Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei and other organisms to control hypercholesterolaemia, consequently, to avoid the risk of coronary heart disease