Funtional potencial of Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lac-tococcus lactis isolated from buffalo milk

This work was developed with the objective of studying the functional properties of Leuconostoc mesenteroides LB10.4 and Lactococcus lactis L4A8 isolated from buffalo milk. The cultures were harmless under the conditions studied. The isolates demonstrated acidifying-proteolytic activity. Lipolytic activity, gas production and lysine hydrolysis were not detected. The isolates showed microbial growth at temperatures of 20ºC, 30ºC and 37ºC and bacteriostatic effect against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. In the evaluation of the effect of nisin and pediocin on the isolates, it was observed that on Leuconostoc mesenteroides LB10.4, nisin promoted a bacteriostatic effect. In association, the isolates showed tolerance to the gastrointestinal tract, which was not observed for Leuconostoc mesenteroides LB10.4 alone. The two lactic bacteria were microencapsulated and proved viable when the controlled release in the milk food matrix was evaluated. This study presents the possibility of associating two autochthonous lactic bacteria isolated from buffalo milk. With this association, research aimed at technological application in different food matrices and processing conditions can be developed, in order to propose new possibilities of lactic bacteria for application in food.