Chokeberry Extract: Inhibitory Activity on Some Lactic Acid Bacteria and the Growth Stimulative Effect on Limosilactobacillus fermentum MA-7

protecting and balancing the intestinal flora is important for protection body against many diseases. It is important to develop probiotics, which are an important part of the flora balance, and prebiotic agents that encourage the development of probiotics. The study aimed to determine the potential use of the ethanol extract obtained from Chokeberry fruits with probiotic candidate Limosilactobacillus fermentum MA-7 as natural additive agents in the pharmaceutical and food industries.The biological activity of the extract was determined against probiotic candidate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains isolated from human breast milk. First, the inhibitory activity of the extract was determined using the disc diffusion method against five different LABs. Then, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of the extract on the LABs were determined using the micro-dilution method. Finally, the biological activity of the extract on L. fermentum MA-7 at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/ml was determined using the macro-dilution method.The extract showed antibacterial activity only against Streptococcus thermophilus MAS-1, with an inhibition zone diameter of 6.43 mm. MIC and MBC values of the extract were found as 12.5 mg/ml - >50 mg/ml and 25 mg/ml - >50 mg/ml, respectively. The stimulatory activity of the extract on L. fermentum MA-7 was obtained using macro-dilution method. The number of viable cells was determined after 0, 24 and 48 hours. A concentration of 50 mg/ml extract promoted the growth of L. fermentum MA-7 at 24 and 48 hours. 100 mg/ml extract concentration inhibited the growth of L. fermentum MA-7 after 24 hours but increased its growth after 48 hour compared to 24th hour. It has been shown that Chokeberry fruit ethanol extract at appropriate concentrations can be an alternative as a natural stimulant for L. fermentum MA-7 to support its development in the pharmaceutical industry and as a natural additive in the food industries.