Action of lactoferrin on the multiplication of Lactobacillus casei in vitro and in Minas fresh cheese

Massami Inay, OsneySantana da Silva, AlissonRenato Honjoya, EdsonHiroshi Sugimoto, HélioHoch Batista de Souza, CínthiaHelena Walter de Santana, Elsade Rezende Costa, MarcelaCasale Aragon-Alegro, Lina

This study evaluated the activity of lactoferrin on the multiplication of probiotic Lactobacillus casei in vitro and in Minas fresh cheese. Growth curves of L. casei in BHI broth containing 1 mg/mL and 2 mg/mL of lactoferrin were performed. Additionally, Minas fresh cheeses added of L. casei (control) and added of L. casei and lactoferrin (2 mg/g and 4 mg/g) were produced and stored at 5C during 28 days. Cheeses were analyzed for pH, titratable acidity and enumeration of L. casei and psychotropic microorganisms in days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 and for the centesimal composition in day 1. The experiment was repeated three times, and data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test at 5% significance level. When tested in vitro, L. casei multiplication was stimulated by lactoferrin at a concentration of 2 mg/mL, but this activity has not been verified in the cheese, even in that added by lactoferrin at 4 mg/g. Psychotropic population in the cheeses added by lactoferrin did not differ from control cheese (P>0.05), demonstrating that no antimicrobial activity occurred in the products. More studies should be performed to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of lactoferrin in foods, since they have more variables that may affect the activity of this protein when comparing to in vitro tests.

1. Antimicrobial activity
2. Probiotics.
3. , Cheese
4. Ciências Agrárias
5. Milk products
6. Biologic activit