EVALUATION OF PREBIOTIC POTENTIAL OF SALEP OBTAINED FROM SOME ORCHIDACEAE SPECIES.

The aim of the current study was to determine the utilization of salep from some Orchidaceae species by selected Bifidobacterium spp. Bifidobacteria were grown in Tryptone Peptone Yeast Extract (TPY) supplemented with 1% (w/v) glucose or 0.5 %, 1 % and 2 % w/v salep. The growth of the Bifidobacterium species was investigated by measuring the pH and optical density (OD) at 600 nm during a 48 h-fermentation, and calculating the prebiotic activity score (PAS). The results showed that the Bifidobacterium species could develop acidity through activation in the TPY broth containing salep. The B. infantis present in the TPY broth containing salep powder at 0.5-1 % was found to have the highest cell density value. In general, the PAS values obtained from the study showed similarities with those of commercial prebiotics, especially with fructooligosaccharides and inulin. The result of this study also indicates that salep can enhance the growth of some Bifidobacterium species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]