Abstract
Lactic acid bacteria are used for the production of large variety of fermented foods in order to enhance shelf-life together with improved organoleptic and nutritional properties. In order to create new functional foods and to reduce fresh product waste, the objectives of my PhD were to develop and characterize fruit or vegetables fermented foods, rich in antioxidants and pleasant for consumers. To reach these goals, my PhD work was split in two steps: 1- characterization of lactic bacteria present on fruits and vegetables grown at Reunion Island and 2- selection of autochthonous bacteria with functional properties. Thus, 77 lactic bacteria from genera Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, Weissella, Lactobacillus and Fructobacillus were isolated from papaya, tomato and sliced cabbage from Reunion Island. They were genetically and phenotypically characterized. A huge diversity in term of genetic and phenotypic characteristics was determined. Furthermore, several isolates exhibiting specific technological and functional properties (growth rate, resistance to environmental stress, production of exopolysaccharides) were identified. These isolates, potentially useful for the production of fermented foods, were Weissella cibaria 64 and 30, Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides 60 and Lactobacillus plantarum 75. Then, further screening steps were performed on different food substrates (pineapple, mango, papaya, tea infusions) in order to select isolates able to improve antioxidant and organoleptic properties. Two isolates, W. cibaria 64 and Lc. pseudomesenteroides 12b were shown to significantly enhance the phenolic content and the antioxidant activity of Victoria pineapple juice after a 48h-fermentation. The fermented products exhibited a good shelf-life of 16 days without alteration and preserved nutritional benefits. Characteristic odour and tastes were detected in the fermented drinks. The increase in antioxidant activity observed during fermentation was probably the consequence of a depolymerization of phenolic compounds. Further works are required to identify the composition changes over fermentation and to reach a better understanding of the mechanisms involved.