Production and purification of a novel exopolysaccharide from lactic acid bacterium Streptococcus phocae PI80 and its functional characteristics activity in vitro

Optimum culture conditions which ease the synthesis of a novel exopolysaccharide (EPS) from a potent marine strain Streptococcus phocae was proposed in this study. The strain grows well at 35 °C, pH 7.0 and NaCl (2%) with lactose and yeast extract as best carbon and nitrogen sources. The maximum yield of EPS (11.75 and 12.14 g/L) was obtained in the presence of lactose and yeast extract at a concentration of 20 g/L respectively. EPS was refined by gel filtration chromatography using phenyl Sepharose column which revealed the presence of arabinose, fructose and galactose sugar units with molecular mass about 2.8 × 10⁵ Da. Emulsifying and flocculating stability of EPS compared with three commercial hydrocolloids. EPS exhibited better activities which are similar to that of commercial hydrocolloids. Both crude and purified EPS exhibited strong antioxidant potential by quenching hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals. Antibiofilm activity by inhibition of Gram positive and Gram negative biofilm forming bacteria was evident in our studies. Potential antioxidant activity and biofilm inhibiting property of EPS may lead to the development of novel food grade adjuncts.