Biochemical Traits, Survival and Biological Properties of the Probiotic <em>Lactobacillus plantarum</em> Grown in the Presence of Prebiotic Inulin and Pectin as Energy Source

Abstract

The viability of the probiotic strain <em>Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum</em>, after its passage through simulated gastric and pancreatic juices, was evaluated as function of its pre-growth in a medium containing the known prebiotics pectin or inulin, and was compared to glucose used as control. The presence of pectin or inulin did not markedly affect the growth (10.07 log₁₀ colony forming units/mL and 10.28 log₁₀ colony forming units/mL for pectin and inulin respectively <em>versus</em> 10.42 log₁₀ colony forming units/mL obtained for glucose). Pectin and inulin, in contrast to glucose, induced cell stress resistance against gastrointestinal juices (D log₁₀1.5 and 2.4 colony forming units/mL respectively, <em>versus</em> D log₁₀ 4.0 for glucose). The data were corroborated by the analysis of the protein pattern following stress treatments which, in the case of microbial cells grown with glucose, revealed a more marked protein degradation after the double passage through simulated gastric and intestinal juices. Inulin stimulated the production of the relevant healthy bio-molecule butyrate, which amount was 30% higher respect of growth in the presence of glucose. Inulin and pectin improved cell DPPH scavenging activity, and an impressive hydrophobicity (35.28% and 34.81%, respectively) was observed with respect to the microbial growth in presence of glucose (3.39%).

Keywords

• probiotics
• prebiotics
• microelectrophoresis
• antioxidative
• aggregation
• short chain fatty acids