The probiotic properties of propionibacteria

ADRIANA PEREZ CHAIA; GABRIELA ZARATE; GUILLERMO OLIVER

LAIT

EDP SCIENCES S A

Año: 1999 vol. 79 p. 175 - 185

0023-7302

TITULO: The probiotic properties of propionibacteria AUTORES: Perez Chaia A.*, Zárate G. and Oliver G. ABSTRACT ABSTRACT The beneficial properties of lactic acid bacteria have been  extensively studied and there is scientific evidence that support their use as food microbial supplements. Some potential probiotic properties have been clearly demonstrated for lactobacilli and other genera but not for  propionibacteria (PAB). This article reports the effect of feeding propionibacteria on the composition and the metabolic activity of the intestinal microflora realtedto faecal enzymes involved in the release of carcinogenica compounds. The studies were carried out with four strains of Propionibacterium. The effect of feeding with PAB was evaluated in Balb/c mice receiving conventional solid food or food supplemented with meat over varying periods. The results indicate that this feeding influences the composition of of the intestinal microflora, specially modifying the number of anaerobes and coliforms in the caecal content. The metabolic activity of the resident microflora was also modified by feeding with propionibacteria. The greatest effect was observed on b-glucuronidase activity. However, some differences were also observed on azoreductase and nitroreductase activities. The data suggest that PAB may have a role in the prevention of colon cancer.