Investigation Of Probiotic Potential Of Lactic Acid Bacteria And Its Response To Cold Stress:- Eke, Mercy U

ABSTRACT

 This study was aimed at investigation of probiotic potential of Lactic acid bacteria and its response to cold stress. Two (2) samples each of ogiri and ugba were purchased from local vendors within Umuahia metropolis and taken to Microbiology laboratory for the isolation of lactic acid bacteria, using standard microbiological method. After the microbial analysis, two species of LAB were isolated as Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Leuconostroc mesenteriods. The percentage occurance of Lactobacillus bulgaricus was higher (80%) was higher than Leuconostroc mesenteriods (20%). The result of the cold stress showed that a decrease in temperature results in decrease in survival rate of LAB. Antimicrobial activity of the isolates showed a high sensitivity to some pathogenic bacteria. High level of sensitivity (20mm) to S. aureus and Puedomonas aeruginosa and 5- I 0mm of inhibition for £. coli and Salmonella typhi were recorded among the isolates. The finding of this study therefore calls for high consumption of fermented food products as it helps ameliorate immunologic diseases such as allergy, cancer, and ulcerative colitis and also subjection of fermented food products to cold stress help in its preservation.