Gum Acacia Enrichment Culture to Extract Probiotic Microorganisms

Background and rational: Aging is associated with decreases in the potentially beneficial bacteria such as  bifidobacteria. It is though that through bifidobacteria metabolite, the production of organic acids may effect on the modulation of the gut microbiota. Gum acacia (GA) showed a potential prebiotic effect in previous work and increase the beneficial bacteria. These results imply that the GA is able to impact on the negative changes associated with ageing.

Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine key utilisers of GA and isolate putative probiotics.

Methodology: Using GA enrichment culture experiment for 14 days from three healthy elderly people faeces then investigate the antimicrobial activity of the isolated probioitcs in vitro using agar spot test and well diffusion assay via antipathogenic activities against pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium and Enterococcus faecalis. 

Results: The probiotics from three volunteers were able to produce active compounds on solid media with antimicrobial activity. These were also confirmed when cell-free culture supernatants (CFCS) from the putative probiotics were used in agar well diffusion assay. These experiments were able to confirm the capacity of potential probiotics to inhibit selected pathogens. One of the main inhibitory mechanisms may result from the production of organic acids from utilising the GA and consequent lower of culture pH. These observations could lead to the end products of GA metabolism. 

Conclusion: The potential probiotics show a remarkable antimicrobial activity, this is relevant to elderly population to decrease infections caused by pathogens bacteria.