ABSTRACT
Aims: Postbiotic metabolites are metabolic compounds produced by probiotic lactic acid bacteria. These compounds produced by Lactobacillus sp. have been shown to be effective substitutes for in-feed antibiotic in livestock due to their broad inhibitory activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of various carbon and nitrogen sources on the bacteriocin-inhibitory activity of postbiotic metabolites produced by Lactobacillus plantarum I-UL4. Methodology and results: The effects of various combinations of carbon and nitrogen sources on the bacteriocininhibitory activity (expressed as modified bacteriocin activity, MAU/mL) of postbiotic metabolites produced by L. plantarum I-UL4 were determined in basal media without micronutrients. The combination of glucose (20 g/L) and yeast extract (22 g/L) gave the best bacteriocin-inhibitory activity as compared to other combinations. Maximum bacteriocininhibitory activity of 1440 MAU/mL was achieved when 36.20 g/L of yeast extract was added as the sole nitrogen source in modified de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) medium. The glucose concentration was further optimised to enhance the bacteriocin-inhibitory activity of the postbiotic metabolites. Lower bacteriocin-inhibitory activity was observed at 5, 10, 15 and 40 g/L in comparison to 20 g/L of glucose. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Maximum bacteriocin-inhibitory activity of postbiotic metabolites was achieved at 1440 MAU/mL when 20 g/L of glucose and 36.20 g/L of yeast extract were added as the sole carbon and nitrogen sources respectively in the modified MRS medium. Optimisation of other micronutrients present in MRS media is necessary to further enhance the bacteriocin-inhibitory activity of postbiotic metabolites produced by L. plantarum IUL4.