Probiotic properties and immune-stimulating effect of the Jeju lava seawater mineral-coated probiotics

Abstract In this study, the Jeju lava seawater (JLS) mineral-coated probiotics were developed and evaluated for their characteristics including intake stability and stimulation of intestinal immune system. Thirty percentage of JLS in culture medium provided the optimum viability and protein contents of probiotics. In in vitro continuous intake simulation model, minerals and salts stress in JLS elevated the tolerance of probiotics. Mineral-coated probiotics significantly increased the survival rate against the gastric juice (more than 20%) and bile salt broth (40%) compared with non-coated probiotics. Also, cell surface of mineral-coated probiotics showed more hydrophobicity and two times more affinity to chloroform. Cell surface hydrophobicity resulted in increased adhesive ability of mineral-coated probiotics. When the mineral-coated probiotics were treated on RAW 264.7 cells, the levels of IL-1β, an immune stimulatory cytokine, were increased twice more than that of red ginseng concentrate. In conclusion, the salt stress condition with JLS improved the intake stability and functions of probiotics. So, we expect that JLS mineral-coated probiotics could provide more significant health boosting effects than general probiotics.