Probiotics and human health

Abstract

Probiotics are living microorganisms which impart beneficial effects to consumers when ingested in a certain quantity. The main probiotic groups include the strains of genera Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Lactococcus and Streptococcus. Probiotics are similar to the naturally found intestinal gut microflora which play an important role in enhancing the human and animal health. Probiotic microorganisms provide various health benefits to human, reduce the blood pressure, decrease the serum cholesterol level, lactose digestion and improve immune response etc. They provide health benefits to the consumers by various mechanisms such as by producing the different postbiotics (bacteriocins, lactic acid), build up the epithelial barrier, fight for binding sites with pathogens on gut wall and thus preventing the infection and enhancing the adhesion to intestinal mucosa. Thus, probiotics having therapeutic values are used for the treatment of various diseases and illness such as allergy, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, urogenital infections, to reduce obesity, cholesterolaemia and diarrhea. Due to their numerous health benefits, probiotics are gaining more attention among researchers and consumers. More research is needed on probiotics and their action mechanisms which will provide suitable probiotic strain for treatment/prevention of diseases. This review presents the role of probiotic microorganisms in sustaining and improving the health of human being.