Effect of germinated Hang rice on growth and viability of probiotic Lactobacillus during refrigerated storage

The ability of probiotic bacteria to grow in cereal substrates and viability during storage are important for the development of products supplemented with probiotic cultures. This study aimed to evaluate growth and viability of two probiotic Lactobacillus sp. in germinated Hang rice. L. acidophilus TISTR 450 and L. plantarum TISTR 875 were cultured in fermentation medium prepared from rice powder (3 and 5% w/v). After inoculation, the culture was incubated at 100 rpm and 37 degrees C for 48 hr. Three and five percent (w/v) of germinated Hang rice supported the growth of L. plantarum TISTR 875 which cell population increased 4.5 and 4.10 log(10)CFU/ml, respectively. Survival of bacteria in germinated Hang rice during storage at 4 degrees C was also observed. L. plantarum TISTR 875 remained at about 7.34 and 8.02 log(10)CFU/ml in 3 and 5% (w/v) germinated Hang rice, respectively, throughout the refrigerated storage period (22 days). In addition, the pH value and reducing sugar concentration of the culture medium reduced along the storage period. (C) All Rights Reserved