FOLATE PRODUCTION BY LACTIC ACID BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM ANIMAL MILKS

LAIÑO, J; JUAREZ DEL VALLE, M; RODRIGUEZ-GOMEZ, JM; LEBLANC, JG; SAVOY DE GIORI, G

Tafí del Valle. Tucumá;n

Jornada; XXVIII Jornadas Científicas de la Asociación de Biología de Tucumán.; 2011

AsociacIón de Biología de Tucumán

Folates (vit. B9) are essential for animal growth, especially during early childhood. Deficiencies are more common during this growth period because of higher nutrient demands. Some lactic bacteria (LAB) can synthesize B9 making them useful for the elaboration of foods naturally enriched in folate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability to produce folate by novel strains of LAB. Strains (33) belonging of Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum, L. fermentum, L. reuteri and L. murinus species, isolated from animal milks (dogs, pigs, etc.), were inoculated in a folate-free culture medium and incubated at 37ºC for 16 h. Total, intra- and extra-cellular concentrations were determined by means of a microbiological assay using L. rhamnosus NCIMB10463 as the indicator strain. Only 24 LAB grew without B9 and most of these produced it in a range between 3-82 ug/L; 12 strains excreted it with values >100 ug/L. L. reuteri (5 strains) and L. plantarum (1) produced the highest concentrations of total B9 (>200 ug/L). The results showed that endogenous LAB found in animal milks are able to produce high concentrations of B9. These could be administered as vitamin vehicles to deliver folates in the digestive tract of animals or used to elaborate novel bio-enriched products.