Improved survival of Lactobacillus paracasei NFBC 338 in spray-dried powders containing gum acacia

J Appl Microbiol. 2002;93(6):1003-11. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2002.01782.x.

Abstract

Aims: To assess the protective effect of gum acacia (GA) on the performance of Lactobacillus paracasei NFBC 338 during spray-drying, subsequent storage and exposure of the culture to porcine gastric juice.

Methods and results: For these studies, Lact. paracasei NFBC 338 was grown in a mixture of reconstituted skim milk (10% w/v) and GA (10% w/v) to mid log phase and spray-dried at outlet temperatures between 95 and 105 degrees C. On spray drying at the higher air outlet temperature of 100-105 degrees C, the GA-treated culture displayed 10-fold greater survival than control cells. Probiotic lactobacilli in GA-containing powders also survived dramatically better than untreated cultures during storage at 4-30 degrees C for 4 weeks. A 20-fold better survival of the probiotic culture in GA-containing powders was obtained during storage at 4 degrees C while, at 15 and 30 degrees C, greater than 1000-fold higher survival was obtained. Furthermore, the viability of probiotic lactobacilli in GA-containing powders was 100-fold higher when exposed to porcine gastric juice over 120 min compared with the control spray-dried culture.

Conclusions: The data indicate that GA has applications in the protection of probiotic cultures during drying, storage and gastric transit.

Significance and impact of the study: Gum acacia treatment for the manufacture of probiotic-containing powders should result in more efficient probiotic delivery to the host gastrointestinal tract.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Desiccation
  • Food Preservation / methods*
  • Gastric Juice / metabolism
  • Gastric Juice / microbiology
  • Gum Arabic* / metabolism
  • Hot Temperature
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
  • Lactobacillus / drug effects
  • Lactobacillus / physiology*
  • Preservation, Biological*
  • Probiotics*
  • Swine

Substances

  • Gum Arabic
  • Hydrogen Peroxide