Departamento de Graduados e Investigación en Alimentos. Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Carpio y Plan de Ayala, C.P. 11340, México City, México.

Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]; Tel. 5729-6000 ext 62464

Bile salt hydrolase enzyme (BSH) is considered to be especially relevant for microbes that reside in the mammalian gastro intestinal tract. Great attention has been focused on these enzymes because of their potential to greatly influence host physiology. On the other hand, the majority of the current reviews about bile salt hydrolase (BSH) are mainly focused on either microorganisms isolated from human sources or probiotics that show this activity. However, bile salt hydrolase activity appears not to be limited to bacteria from the gastrointestinal system, since other microorganisms isolated from vegetable sources exhibit this activity as well. The present study aims to compile information on the isolation sources of microorganisms with BSH activity.

Keywords: bile salt hydrolase, bile salts, Lactobacillus