Lactic Acid Bacteria as an Exopolysaccharides (EPS) Producing Starter from Pakoba Fruit (Syzygium sp.), Endemic Species at Minahasa, North Sulawesi

Abstract

Pakoba fruit (Syzygium sp.) is one of the medicinal plants of Minahasan folks and it is an endemic species in North Sulawesi. Pakoba can only be found in Minahasa areas and is very popular among people in Minahasa. The taste is sour, making this fruit as the main ingredient to be processed into rojak, sweets, dodol, jam, or syrup. Pakoba fruit is widely used for treatment in the simplest way because this fruit contains many bioactive compounds. Pakoba fruit can act as a source of probiotics because it contains good microorganisms, namely Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB). Some types of LAB are able to synthesize exopolysaccharides (EPS), which are polysaccharide polymers considered essential for health. Therefore this research aims to determine the presence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in Pakoba fruit and their potential to produce exopolysaccharides. The presence of lactic acid bacteria in Pakoba fruit was detected through the pour plate method on MRSA media (de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe Agar) + CaCO3 1%. The culture was incubated at 37°C for 48 hours. Growing colonies are observed morphological features of colonies, cells, biochemical and physiological properties. The isolates believed to be LAB, were then tested for its potential to produce EPS. From the total of 35 producing-acid bacteria, 17 isolates were tested as lactic acid bacteria group that had characteristics of bacilli cells, gram-positive bacteria, catalase-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, gas production, mesophilic, aciduric, can ferment carbohydrates. Based on Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, the seventeen isolates were identified as members of the Lactobacillus genus. The seventeen isolates also showed the ability to produce exopolysaccharides in the range of 102-1570 mg/L.