ORIGINAL ARTICLE Glucomannan hydrolysate (GMH) inhibition of Candida albicans growth in the presence of Lactobacillus and Lactococcus species

Konjac glucomannan hydrolysate (GMH) was compared with inulin and glucose for its capacity to support the growth of probiotic bacteria but inhibit the growth of Candida albicans in vitro. The growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was studied under aerobic, anaerobic and 5 % CO2 conditions where the GMH progressively supported the growth of LAB as a function of concentration (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 % w/v). In mixed cultures, GMH promoted the growth of LAB (even at concentrations as low as 0.1%) and consequently increased inhibition of C. albicans under anaerobic conditions, 5 % CO2 or aerobic conditions. Inhibition of C. albicans growth was generally higher than that with glucose or inulin and, of the LAB strains, Lactobacillus jensenii exhibited most inhibition of the pathogen. The stimulatory effects of low concentrations of GMH on LAB and inhibition of C. albicans make these prebiotic and probiotic combinations a potential prophylactic or therapeutic agent for vaginal episodes. Key words: glucomannan hydrolysate (GMH), probiotic isolates, prebiotic, biocontrol, Candida albicans, bacterial vaginosi