ATTEMPT TO APPLY PULLULAN AS GROWTH STIMULATOR FOR SELECTED PROBIOTIC AND POTENTIALLY PROBIOTIC BACTERIA

The effect was studied of the addition of pullulan on the growth stimulation of 12 strains of probiotic and potentially probiotic bacteria of a Lactobacillus genus. The cultures were incubated for 48h with the use of an automatic growth analyzer 'Bioscreen C' in MRS control media with glucose (0.5 to 2.0 %), in experimental MRS media with pullulan added (from 0.5 to 2.0 %), and in MRS media containing 2.0 % of glucose and 2.0 % of pullulan. It was found that the bacteria studied did not grow better in the media containing pullulan; however, the strains studied grew much better in the media with glucose and supplemented with 2.0 % of pullulan. The best stimulating effect was achieved for the L. plantarum 44 strain. At the same time, changes in pH and total acidity of the culture media were analyzed after a period of 24 and 48 h of incubation. No differences were reported in the values of pH and total acidity as regards the MRS medium with 2.0 % of glucose and the MRS with 2.0 % of glucose and 2.0 % of pullulan, equally after 24 and 48 h of their incubation. A culture of L. acidophilus CH-5 was the only one to show a higher acidity of the MRS medium with 2.0 % of glucose and 2.0 % of pullulan, equally after 24 and 48 h of their incubation. At the same time, the addition of pullulan stimulated the growth of the latter bacterial strain.