Growth, folate production and survival to simulated gastrointestinal conditions of probiotics grown in potato substrates

NORMA SAMMÁN; ANA LAURA MOSSO; JEAN GUY LEBLANC; GRACIELA VIGNOLO

Egmond aan Zee

Simposio; 12° Simposio de Bacterias Lácticas.; 2017

Research on potential probiotic lactic acid bacteria strains, validation of their positive effects and selection of adequate fermentation matrixes as vehicles for their delivery are of great interest for the functional foods industry. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the suitability of different potato substrates for growth, folate production and tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions (SGIC) by selected lactic acid bacterial strains.Two strains of Lactobacillus sakei and a commercial strain of L casei were washed and inoculated in two potato substrates: i) a mix of Andean potato (Solanum tuberosum spp andigena) puree and amaranth flour (Amaranthus caudathus) and ii) the same but with added chia seeds flour (Salvia hispanica L.). Fermentation took place for 24 h at 37 °C. Both individual cells and those present in the fermented potato mixtures were exposed to simulated gastric juice and sequentially to intestinal simulated juice. The results of this study revealed that both potato matrices were satisfactory fermentation substrates since all strains were able to grow reaching 11 log UFC/g after 24 h. When placed in SGIC, the potato substrates did not protect the strains since cell counts decreased between 1.36 and 2.78 log UFC/g which were similar to the individual strains. Although the food matrix did not provide a beneficial effect against the SGIC, the potato substrates used in this study could be used as a novel vehicle for probiotic delivery with increased folate concentrations aimed at nutritionally deprived populations.