In vitro and in vivo survival and transit tolerance of potentially probiotic strains carried by artichokes in the gastrointestinal tract

Abstract

The ability of potentially probiotic strains of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus paracasei to survive on artichokes for at least 90 days was shown. The anchorage of bacterial strains to artichokes improved their survival in simulated gastrointestinal digestion. L. paracasei IMPC2.1 was further used in an artichoke human feeding study involving four volunteers, and it was shown that the organism could be recovered from stools.

Figures

FIG. 1.

Survival of L. plantarum ITM21B (a) and L. paracasei IMPC2.1 (b) on artichokes (•) and the pH value of their brines (○). Data, expressed as means ± standard errors, are from three independent experiments with two replicates each (n = 6).

FIG. 2.

Survival of L. plantarum ITM21B (a) and L. paracasei IMPC2.1 (b) during simulated gastric (pH 2.0) and intestinal digestion (pH 8.0) in the presence of saline solution (•), skim milk (□), olives (○), and artichokes (▪). Data, expressed as means ± standard errors, are from three independent experiments with two replicates each (n = 6).