Functional properties of exopolysaccharide (EPS) extract from Lactobacillus fermentum Lf2 and its impact when combined with Bifidobacterium animalis INL1 in yoghurt

Abstract

The roles of an exopolysaccharide (EPS) extract from Lactobacillus fermentum Lf2 were studied individually or combined with a probiotic strain, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis INL1. EPS in its purified form caused an increase in the levels of cytokine TNF-α; both purified and crude EPS produced an increase in the regulatory cytokine IL-10. BALB/c mice received yoghurt with no additives (Y), with EPS (YE), with bifidobacteria (YB), or both (YEB) for 25 days. Only the YE group presented significantly increased concentrations of total short chain fatty acids (p < 0.05) including acetic and butyric acids; the levels of the C. coccoides cluster also rose over time (p < 0.05) for this group. A possible bifidogenic role was observed with the YEB group, reflected in the increasing levels of the genus Bifidobacterium along time (p < 0.05); this was not observed when the probiotic was administered solely (YB group).