Effects of wild type lactic acid bacteria on histamine and tyramine formation in sucuk

Biogenic amines (BAs) are formed by the decarboxylation of amino acids in fermented products and accumulate in these products due to the fermentation conditions, the natural microflora of the product, and the diversity of amino acids. Although they are inhibited by the human body, they are a hazard to public health. Starter cultures used in fermented sucuk should not have amino acid decarboxylase properties. Therefore, the aim was to determine proteolytic activity, histidine and tyrosine decarboxylase enzyme activities of Lactobacillus plantarum , Lactobacillus sake, and Lactobacillus curvatus species and to evaluate the level of BA in sucuk groups containing these lactic acid bacteria (LAB). It was determined that none of the LAB generated these activities. While histamine values were not statistically significant in the sucuk groups (P > 0.05), tyramine values showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). According to the results of the study, L. plantarum or L. curvatus can provide more reliable fermented products in respect to tyramine formation. L. plantarum , L. sake , and L. curvatus could reduce histamine and tyramine formation in fermented sucuk.