Papaya extract as a prebiotic strengthens the inhibitory activity of lactobacillus against the growth of pathogenic bacteria

Abstract

Abstract The flesh leaves, and seeds of papaya contain carbohydrates and dietary fiber that were suggested capable of being metabolized by intestinal microbiota such as L. casei and L. plantarum to produce beneficial secondary metabolites for body health. The effect of papaya flesh, leaf, and seed extracts on L. plantarum and L. casei growth and the synbiotic effect of papaya flesh extract with L. plantarum on the growing of S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa in this study, was investigated. Diffusion of paper discs impregnated with various concentrations of the extract was utilized to determine the bacterial growth zone of L. casei, and solid media to calculate the total bacterial population in co-feeding L. plantarum and P. aeruginosa or with S. aureus and E. coli in the presence of papaya flesh extract to determine its synbiotic effect. All extracts increase the growth of L. casei and L. plantarum bacteria. Synbiotic papaya flesh extract suppresses the bacterial growth of P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and E. coli in a concentration-dependent manner. It is concluded that papaya is a promising prebiotic source, to strengthen the effect of L. plantarum to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria.