Abstract

The present research investigated the potential of Lactobacillus fermentum strains CMUL-54 and B978 as a probiotic candidates with mannanase, cellulase, and protease activities. The materials used in this research included L. fermentum CMUL-54, L. fermentum B978, MRS Broth containing oxgall, and various equipment and chemicals for analyzing probiotic candidates, mannanase, cellulase, and protease activities. This study utilized quantitative analysis conducted using a paired two-sample t-test with ten replications. The results revealed that L. fermentum CMUL-54 could be significantly (P<0.01) used as a probiotic candidate, showing resistance to temperatures of 42°C (9.9x109±0.71 CFU/ml), gastric pH (72.35±0.80), bile salt resistance (87.69±3.66), and hydrophobicity test to the intestine (92.40±0.30). Lactobacillus fermentum CMUL-54 also exhibited significant inhibitory zones against lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli (13.27±0.13mm), Salmonella enteritidis (13.91±0.13mm), Staphylococcus aureus (17.75±0.24mm), high activity mannanase (12.36±0.61U/ml), cellulase (12.42±0.24U/ml) and protease (11.30±0.08U/ml). It is concluded that L. fermentum CMUL-54 exhibited superior probiotic properties compared to L. fermentum B978, thus positioning it as a more promising candidate for improving broiler performance through enhanced digestion and overall health. © The Author(s) 2025