Optimum composition of aloe vera and alginate encapsulating matrices for improvement of lactobacillus plantarum NBRC 3070 viability / Nur Syahirah Salehuddin

Encapsulation of cells together with prebiotic source is one of the promising methods to be considered to overcome the issues in delivering probiotic cells to the gut. To date, the used Aloe vera gel as prebiotic source with probiotic cells within alginate beads is unreported elsewhere. Optimization of the composition of Aloe vera gel and alginate to be used as co-encapsulating matrix for maximum encapsulation yields Lactobacillus plantarum NBRC 3070 was carried out using Face Centered Composite Design-Response Surface Methodology (FCCD-RSM). The result showed that the optimum composition of Aloe vera gel is at 1.99 % (v/v) and alginate is at 1.38% (w/v) for the maximum of encapsulation yield (EY) at 89% (up to 1 x 108 CFU/mL) with no significant difference (p < 0.05) in the verification process. The survivability of encapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum NBRC 3070 within optimized Aloe vera gel and alginate coated chitosan was further determined in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) for 2 hours and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) for 4 hours. Results shows that the optimized co-encapsulated matrix was able to protect the entrapped cells during passage in SGF (pH2.5) after 2 hours of incubation with only 1 logio reduction from initial inoculum dose (1.11 x 108 to 1.18 x 107 CFU/mL) and all the cells were then totally released within first hour in SIF (pH 6.5). These beads also has been able to control the release activity of the probiotic cells without changing the physicochemical characteristics of the pineapple juice during the 14 days storage at 4°C. As a conclusion, the optimized Aloe vera gel and alginate coencapsulated matrix was able to protect and improve the survivability of Lactobacillus plantarum NBRC 3070 during delivery process to the target area in gastrointestinal system as well as during fruit juice storage medium