Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Novel Production Protocol for Small-scale Manufacture of Probiotic Fermented Foods
Published on: September 10, 2016
Boza, a natural source of probiotic lactic acid bacteria
S D Todorov1, M Botes, C Guigas
1Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Aims:
To evaluate the probiotic properties of strains isolated from boza, a traditional beverage produced from cereals.
Methods And Results:
The strains survived low pH conditions (pH 3.0), grew well at pH 9.0 and were not inhibited by the presence of 0.3% (w/v) oxbile. Cytotoxicity levels of the bacteriocins, expressed as CC(50), ranged from 38 to 3776 microg ml(-1). Bacteriocin bacST284BZ revealed high activity (EC(50) = 735 microg ml(-1)) against herpes simplex virus type 1. Growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was 69% repressed after 5 days in the presence of bacST194BZ. Various levels of auto-cell aggregation and co-aggregation with Listeria innocua LMG 13568 were observed. Adhesion of the probiotic strains to HT-29 cells ranged from 18 to 22%.
Conclusions:
Boza is a rich source of probiotic lactic acid bacteria. All strains survived conditions simulating the gastrointestinal tract and produced bacteriocins active against a number of pathogens. Adherence to HT-29 and Caco-2 cells was within the range reported for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, a well-known probiotic. In addition, the high hydrophobicity readings recorded define the strains as good probiotics.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
Boza contains a number of different probiotic lactic acid bacteria and could be marketed as a functional food product.
Related Concept Videos
Probiotics
Microbes in the Production of Fermented Foods
Production of Organic Acids
Microbes in Food Production
Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics
Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine
