Antimicrobial Activity Studies of Bactoriocin Produced by Lactobacilli Isolates from Carrot Kanji

Problem statement: In the present study, Staphylococcus aureus a causative agent of food poisoning is selected as a test organism to study the antimicrobial effect of bacteriocin. S. aureus produces number of exotoxins and enterotoxins which enters the body via contaminated food causing illness. Approach: In this case the use of antibiotics is one of the ways of treatment, but in addition to this if we advise such patients to consume the carrot kanji then it will cause better effect because carrot kanji is the naturally fermented food beverage consisting of microflora mainly the Lactobacilli. Results: The Lactobacilli have ability to produce antimicrobial compounds called bacteriocin. Isolation of bacteriocin was carried out from the naturally fermented carrot kanji. The bacteriocin produced by Lactobacilli was dialysed and used for the further studies. The well diffusion method is used to study the antimicrobial activity, effect of temperature, pH, enzymes on bacteriocin. From the diameter of zone of inhibition the activity of bacteriocin was determined. The sensitivity of bacteriocin at different pH range showed that at neutral pH the diameter of inhibition zone was greater than that at alkaline as well as acidic pH. Upto 100°C the bacteriocin activity was 80% but as temperature range increased upto 121°C it reduced sharply to 28%. Conclusion/Recommendations: In addition to this the effect of alpha amylase, trypsin, catalase enzyme on bacteriocin activity was also studied which shows positive results with alpha amylase, reduced activity with trypsin and catalase remained unaffected.