Characterization of Lactobacillus zeae as probiotic and starter culture for tamarillo fermented product

Probiotic was known as the microorganism that can improve human health. It can be in the form of supplements, probiotic food, or fermented food. Probiotic delivery as fermented food has several challenges. Bacteria must have characteristics as probiotics and must be able as a starter culture for fermentation. The characteristics of probiotics were safety, functionality, and high viability during manufacturing, storage, and transit in the gastrointestinal tract. Some fruit-based fermentations provide a protective environment for probiotics that can improve viability. This study aimed to isolate Lactobacillus, potentially a probiotic and a starter culture for tamarillo juice fermentation. The isolate was characterized for antibiotic susceptibility, haemolytic activity, lysozyme, acid and bile salt resistance, antimicrobial activity, bile salt hydrolase activity, and tamarinds fermenting ability. Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus acidophilus were used as comparison bacteria in this study. The results indicated that Lactobacillus zeae could be isolated from tamarillo fruit. It was potential as a probiotic, which was safe and had functional properties. Then, it has high resistance to lysozyme, acid, and bile salt, with the percentage of survival successively 92.62, 89.93, and 96.75%. L. zeae can grow in tamarillo juice until the 30th hours.