Professional paper

Antimicrobial and antimutagenic activity of probiotics

Ljerka Gregurek orcid.org/0000-0003-4711-0971 ; PROBIOTIK d.o.o., 10000 Zagreb

Abstract

With the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the concept of probiotics as a natural way of suppressing pathogens has attracted much attention. Probiotics are defined as a "live microbial good supplement, which provide beneficial effects on the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance." Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii are the most commonly organisms used as probiotics in human diet. Probiotic bacteria produce several organic acids with acetic, lactic and pyruvic acid being the major ones. Several researches belive that lactic acid is the only antimicrobial agent of importance. The antimutagenic activity of acetic, butyric, lactic and pyruvic acids, produced by probiotics, versus 8 mutagens or promutagens is reported.

Keywords

probiotics; antimicrobial activity; antimutagenic activity

Hrčak ID:

93481

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/93481

Publication date:

12.12.1999.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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