Authors
Title
Abstract
The effect was studied of the addition of pullulan on the growth stimulation of 12 strains of probiotic and potentially probiotic bacteria of a Lactobacillus genus. The cultures were incubated for 48h with the use of an automatic growth analyzer ‘Bioscreen C’ in MRS control media with glucose (0.5 to 2.0 %), in experimental MRS media with pullulan added (from 0.5 to 2.0 %), and in MRS media containing 2.0 % of glucose and 2.0 % of pullulan. It was found that the bacteria studied did not grow better in the media containing pullulan; however, the strains studied grew much better in the media with glucose and supplemented with 2.0 % of pullulan. The best stimulating effect was achieved for the L. plantarum 44 strain. At the same time, changes in pH and total acidity of the culture media were analyzed after a period of 24 and 48 h of incubation. No differences were reported in the values of pH and total acidity as regards the MRS medium with 2.0 % of glucose and the MRS with 2.0 % of glucose and 2.0 % of pullulan, equally after 24 and 48 h of their incubation. A culture of L. acidophilus CH-5 was the only one to show a higher acidity of the MRS medium with 2.0 % of glucose and 2.0 % of pullulan, equally after 24 and 48 h of their incubation. At the same time, the addition of pullulan stimulated the growth of the latter bacterial strain.
Keywords
pullulan, Lactobacillus, stimulation of growth