Plant based potential probiotic for fortification of pomegranate juice with improved antioxidant activity

Abstract

Probiotics isolation from non-dairy sources has currently drawn researchers’ attention across the globe. The potential isolate SOR9 isolated from citrus plant leaves during our study has exhibited negative hemolytic activity. It is tolerant to low pH condition, different bile salt concentration and gastric juices including lysozyme, pepsin, and pancreatin. It has also demonstrated a robust auto-aggregating phenotype (71.47%) and a high degree of hydrophobicity (17.39%) as indicated by microbial adherence to methanol and weak biofilm formation. Through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the strain SOR9 showed 100% homology to Curtobacterium sp., (100%) (GenBank accession no. ON795170). Through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the strain SOR9 showed 100% homology (concerning antioxidant activity and total phenol content) has indicated that after 4 weeks of storage at 4oC there is a significant increase in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate antioxidant activity and total phenolic content in fortified juice. After storage of 4 weeks, the probiotic microbial community was also observed to be >6 logs CFU/mL. Our study has distinguished that pomegranate juice fortified with Curtobacterium sp. SOR9 produces an excellent functional beverage besides developing novel and promising probiotic products.