The Ability of Lactobacillus Plantarum to Produce Exopolysaccharides with Additional Nutrients

Abstract

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are polysaccharides secreted by microbes out of cells. EPS has potential in the pharmaceutical industry as a texture and rheological agent. EPS was produced by lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus plantarum using a substrate that containing glucose. The purpose of the study was to determine the ability of Lactobacillus plantarum to produce exopolysaccharides with the addition of nutrients, namely (NH4)2HPO4 and raspberry juice as a source of sugar. A fermentation process carried out the EPS production based on a growth curve for 15, 21, and 27 hours with nutrients and without adding nutrients. The additional sugar came from raspberries with concentrations of 25%, 30%, and 35%. EPS levels without the addition of (NH4)2HPO4 with a raspberry concentration of 35% at 15, 21, and 27 hours resulted in 2624, 3704, and 3928 mg/L. The results showed that EPS levels with the addition of (NH4)2HPO4 with a raspberry concentration of 35% at 15, 21, and 27 hours resulted in EPS levels of 3374, 4072, and 4792 mg/L.