Lactic Acid Bacteria as A Bio Preservative: Importance and Production

Biopreservation is the method of employing natural microflora and their antimicrobial compounds to extend the storage life and improve the safety of foods. Streptococcus lactis was the first pure strain of lactic acid bacteria which was isolated from milk by Liszt. He named it bacterium lactis. Lactic acid bacteria are gram-positive, acid-tolerant, have low Guanine-Cytosine content and are generally non-sporulating, non-respiring, either spherical cocci or rod-shaped bacilli bacteria that share most of them their metabolic and physiological characteristics. These bacteria are mostly present in decomposing plants and milk products. They have an increased tolerance to acidity. Most species are incapable of respiration and therefore media used for lactic acid bacteria include a carbohydrate source. At the end of carbohydrate fermentation, these bacteria give out lactic acid as a major end product. The review focuses on the process of lactic acid production by lactic acid bacteria and its expanding importance in a variety of disciplines. Keywords: Lactic acid bacteria, bio preservative, food, microflora