**7. Conclusion and future perspectives**

The EPS produced by *Lactobacillus* spp. are important biopolymers whose potential medical, pharmaceutical and industrial applications are still underutilized. The major problem of this underutilization rest mainly on the poor yield of the biopolymer. The selection of potentially high-yielding strains, exploitation of biotechnological principles through genetic engineering, and exploration of efficient extraction processes through extensive research will surely mitigate this problem and help give

Lactobacillus *exopolysaccharide: An Untapped Biopolymer DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104954*

the biopolymer the required boost it deserves. Scientists in the field of probiotics should make concerted efforts towards the commercialization of EPS. Here we mean making characterized and lyophilized EPS powder commercially available for medical, pharmaceutical and industrial applications, especially in the food industry. The commercial availability of a lyophilized EPS powder will be a welcome development, especially for scientists in the pharmaceutical and food industry who really understand the importance of this biopolymer.

Since EPS is a biopolymer, its use in therapeutic formulations will be more patientfriendly devoid of side effects associated with synthetic or semi-synthetic chemicals. Furthermore, the commercial availability of fully characterized biopolymeric substances of *Lactobacillus* origin will create a huge innovation and industrial revolution in the pharmaceutical space this is because of new formulations of anticancer, antiviral, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulants, cholesterol-lowering agents, etc. will be available for therapeutic applications. The same will be applicable in the dairy and meat industries as they will witness a reduction/complete elimination of the use of synthetic polymers. The full industrial and pharmaceutical application of EPS will contribute positively towards the establishment of improved health and wellbeing, as well as promote industrialization, drive innovation and increase infrastructure as envisaged in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
