Microencapsulation of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM incorporated with mannitol and its storage stability in mulberry tea

ABSTRACT Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM (L-NCFM) was microencapsulated via co-extrusion technique with mannitol. Optimization of coating material, locust bean gum (0% to 2%, w/v) and prebiotic, mannitol (0% to 5%, w/v) was tested on bead size and microencapsulation efficiency. L-NCFM cells microencapsulated in three different forms were tested in simulated gastric juice (pH 2.0) and simulated intestinal juice (pH 7.5) and storage test at 4 °C and 25 °C for 4 weeks. 0.5% (w/v) locust bean gum and 3% (w/v) of mannitol are the optimal concentrations to produce bead size of 570 µm, microencapsulation efficiency of 96.81% and cell count 8.92 log CFU/mL. Microencapsulation of L-NCFM with mannitol protect cells better in acidic environment. The viability of encapsulated L-NCFM with mannitol at 4 °C throughout the storage period for 30 days ranged from 8.62 log cfu/mL to 6.80 log cfu/mL, which met the minimum required for probiotic (106CFU/mL).