Disclosed herein are two Lactobacillus isolates having anti-inflammatory activities and beneficial probiotic properties, i.e., Lactobacillus sakei GMNL-76 and Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-89, which were deposited in the Biosource Collection and Research Center (BCRC) of the Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI) under accession numbers BCRC 910355 and BCRC 910340 and in the China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC) under accession numbers CCTCC M 207153 and CCTCC M 207154, respectively. The two Lactobacillus isolates and their sub-cultured offspring can be used in the preparation of a variety of food products, and in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions for treating and/or alleviating diseases associated with inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis.