Influence of Zinc Sulphate on the Probiotic Properties of Lactobacillus plantarum CCM 7102

Abstract

The effects of zinc sulphate on selected properties of L. plantarum CCM 7102 were tested in vitro. The resistance of lactobacilli to higher concentrations of ZnSO4 (up to 5000 mg Zn2+.l−1) in growth media was strain-dependent. Further studies were carried out on the most resistant strain of L. plantarum CCM 7102. While the addition of low concentrations of zinc sulphate into the growth media ( 500 mg Zn2+.l−1 inhibited these properties. The addition of zinc (250 mg Zn2+.l−1) did not affect the resistance to antimicrobials, low pH, and the resistance to bile salt was affected only weakly. Zinc-resistant probiotic Lactobacillus strains are suitable for use in feedstuffs with a higher content of zinc designed for the prevention of post weaning diarrhoea in pigs.

Keywords

• lactobacillus
• probiotic
• resistance
• zinc