title: Improved growth of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus as well as Increased antioxidant activity by biotransforming litchi pericarp polysaccharide with Aspergillus awamori.
abstract: This study was conducted to increase the bioactivity of litchi pericarp polysaccharides (LPPs) biotransformed by Aspergillus awamori. Compared to the non-A. awamori-fermented LPP, the growth effects of A. awamori-fermented LPP on Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus were four and two times higher after 3 days of fermentation, respectively. Increased 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and DNA protection activity of litchi pericarp polysaccharides were also achieved after A. awamori fermentation. Moreover, the relative content of glucose and arabinose in LPP after fermentation decreased from 58.82% to 22.60% and from 18.82% to 10.09%, respectively, with a concomitant increase in the relative contents of galactose, rhamnose, xylose, and mannose. Furthermore, lower molecular weight polysaccharides were obtained after A. awamori fermentation. It can be concluded that A. awamori was effective in biotransforming LPP into a bioactive mixture with lower molecular weight polysaccharides and higher antioxidant activity and relative galactose content.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, Agriculture and Resource Plant Center, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Lingrong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Bao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Guoxiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yueming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D001230:Aspergillus / Q000254:growth & development*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development*; D032125:Litchi / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D048249:Streptococcus thermophilus / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides