In this study, 11 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were screened for potential new probiotics using in vitro methods, including acid and bile salt tolerance, adhesion, antioxidative and a-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The results indicated that Lactobacillus casei 2W and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Z7 showed better potential probiotic properties and a-glucosidase inhibitory activity in vitro. The characteristics of L. casei 2W were better than those of L rhamnosus GG, and L rhamnosus Z7 was the most similar strain to L rhamnosus GG, which had an antidiabetic capability. This finding suggested that L casei 2W and L rhamnosus Z7 could be used as potential antidiabetic probiotics. Further research is required to examine the a-glucosidase inhibitory activity of these strains. Crown Copyright (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.