Sources of Probiotics for Dosage Forms Formulation Future Challenges

Abstract

The development of various probiotic pharmaceutical dosage forms is gaining considerable attention owing to the emerging recognition of probiotics. Probiotics, live microorganisms which confer a health benefit on the host, when administered in adequate amounts, have emerged as important ingredients in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations. Successful formulation of probiotic dosage forms depends largely on selecting well-characterized and physiologically compatible microbial strains. The common sources are fermented foods, the human gastrointestinal tract, dairy products, plants, and other natural habitats. However, translating these natural isolates into stable and effective formulations still poses overwhelming challenges. The major concerns are strain-specific functionality, safety assessment, large-scale cultivation, and viability of the cells while processing, formulation, and storage. Moreover, environmental factors such as heat, moisture, and oxygen that cause deterioration in probiotics make their formulation into solid and liquid dosage forms complicated. Future directions emphasize sustainable sourcing, advanced protection systems based on microencapsulation and nanotechnology, and the search for novel probiotic sources. The present review covers the sources of probiotics, discusses the limitations in developing the dosage forms, and outlines some prospective strategies to overcome these future challenges for improved therapeutic efficacy and commercial success.

Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 29(2): 310-323, 2026 (July)