Functional characteristics of Lactobacillus spp. from traditional Maasai fermented milk products in Kenya.
In this study functional characteristics of 23 representative Lactobacillus strains isolated from the Maasai traditional fermented milk 'Kule naoto' were determined. The Lb. acidophilus group strains showed resistance to gastric juice and bile. In addition, some Lb. acidophilus strains expressed bile salt hydrolase activity, and had ability to assimilate cholesterol in vitro. In-vitro adhesion to HT29 MTX cells of up to 70% was recorded. Lb. fermentum strains showed almost 100% survival under simulated stomach acidic conditions and physiological salt concentrations of bile salts, hydrophobicity values were over 80%. Most strains of the Lb. casei and Lb. acidophilus groups showed aggregation abilities of above 50%. Many strains expressed a protective effect against N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine induced DNA damage according to the 'comet assay' and none was virulent. The antibiotic minimum inhibitory concentration of selected strains was established. According to these results, the Lactobacillus spp associated with 'Kule naoto', contain potentially probiotic (functional) strains.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Department of Food Science and Technology, P. O. Box 62000, 00200, Nairobi, Kenya. juliusmaina_2000@yahoo.com
Julius Maina
JM
Mathara
Ulrich
U
Schillinger
Claudia
C
Guigas
Charles
C
Franz
Phillip Museve
PM
Kutima
Samuel K
SK
Mbugua
H-K
HK
Shin
Wilhelm H
WH
Holzapfel
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D001646:Bile / Q000382:microbiology; D002460:Cell Line; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D020552:Comet Assay; D043302:Cultured Milk Products / Q000382:microbiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007630:Kenya; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability; D019936:Probiotics
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents