Abstract

IN VITRO GASTROINTESTINAL AND NACL TOLERANCE OF SELECTED LACTOBACILLUS STRAINS

Pratiksha Patel*, Patel V.H. and Rema S.

ABSTRACT

Lactobacilli are a part of the human microbiota and are widely used as starter cultures in the food industry. The present study aimed to determine the In vitro gastrointestinal tolerance and NaCl stress tolerance of eight selected lactobacillus strains namely L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. paracasei, L. brevis, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, L. lactis and L. helveticus in order to select the strains showing high probiotic potential. In vitro gastrointestinal parameters included simulated gastric fluid tolerance and pancreatic fluid tolerance. Gastrointestinal tolerance test indicated that out of the eight strains studied only L. paracasei and L. brevis showed growth resumption after 3h at pH 1.5 whereas all the lactobacillus strains were able to tolerate pH 3. L. brevis, L. paracasei and L. acidophilus strains showed higher pancreatic fluid tolerance compared to the others. All the strains tolerated 9% NaCl concentration though reduction in count was observed at this concentration compared to 1, 3 and 6% concentration. Overall L. paracasei and L. brevis showed higher gastrointestinal and NaCl tolerance among all the strains studied.

Keywords: Lactobacillus strains, gastric fluid tolerance, pancreatic fluid tolerance, NaCl tolerance.