Extracts of edible plants as beneficial microorganisms

Abstract

The aim of the work is to determine the content of biologically active compounds in berries and fruits collected in ecologically clean areas, to find out their potential usage for the creation of targeted pharmabiotics, and the ability of such extracts to stimulate the growth of probiotic lactic acid bacte rial strains and other representatives of commensal intestinal microbiota. The content of biologically active compounds was determined by thin-layer chromatography. The plant-specific effect of methanol extracts from berries and fruits on the selected strains L. acidophilus, L. catenaformis, L. casei, L. fermentum, E. coli 058, E. faecalis (gut commensals), B. subtilis 090 (com ponent of biopreparation), which are perspective for the creation of modern pharmabiotics, according to the results of its cultivation in the specified extracts had been shown. It was also found that tested berry extracts were characterized by a higher content of polyphenols, compared to anthocyanins. Alycha’ extract mainly inhibited the growth of most of studied bacterial strains, except B. subtilis 090. Extracts of red currant, sweet cherry, and jostaberry stimulated the growth of L. сatenaformis, while extracts of sweet cherry and jostaberry, in addition to that of the above-mentioned lactobacilli strains, also stimulated the growth of L. сasei and L. fermentum. Blueberry and plum extracts activated the growth of all lactobacilli strains. The ability to stimulate the growth of B. subtilis 090 was noted only for the extracts of alycha, jostaberry, and plum.