Abstract
This study focused on the effects of inulin on growth performance and tolerance in an adverse environment of several probiotics Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Lactobacillus fermentum. The results showed that inulin could significantly promote the growth of B. subtilis, S. cerevisiae, and L. fermentum (p < 0.05). When inulin replaced glucose, the ethanol concentration in S. cerevisiae fermentation broth could be increased by 15%. Inulin could significantly improve the acid tolerance of B. subtilis under acidic conditions. It could significantly improve the bile salt tolerance of L. fermentum and S. cerevisiae and significantly increase the ethanol tolerance of L. fermentum and B. subtilis. It could also significantly increase the survival rate of these three probiotics under low-temperature conditions. Our findings prove that inulin positively affects the growth ability and poor environmental tolerance of probiotics, and can be used as a prebiotic for several probiotics.