Probiotics and prebiotics and their co-encapsulation

This bachelor thesis is focused on study of probiotic cultures and options of coencapsulation with specific substrates called prebiotics. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium breve were used as encapsulated microorganisms. As the specific substrates inulin, psyllium, apple fiber and hemp fiber were tested. Prebiotics was added to probiotics both in untreated form and in hydrolyzed form. The stability and viability of the cells have been studied by microscopy for the period of 6 weeks. Particles were stored in the enviroment of 2.5% citric acid. As the best substrate for cell growth the hemp fiber was found. The hemp fiber exhibited the highest increase of cells count. During observation of long-term stability in the model digestive conditions, particles with hemp fiber were destroyed in instestinal juices. For that reason, particles with hemp fiber could be used in food supplements with targeted transport. The bachalor thesis is also focused on characterisation of prebiotics components. The highest amount of total sugars in the group of non-hydrolyzed prebiotics exhibited psyllium. The highest content of reducing sugars both in the groups of non-hydrolyzed and hydrolyzed prebiotic had hemp fiber. By the method of thin-layer chromatography was found out that the main components of hydrolyzed prebiotics are glucose and fructose. Further, some disaccharides and oligosaccharides were obtained by TLC analysis. For characterisation of prebiotics by HPLC the column Rezex exhibited better sensitivity. HPLC analysis confirmed that the main components of prebiotics are glucose and fructose, some more complex carbohydrates were found too