Prospects for the Use of Non-Starter Strain Lactiplantibacillus Plantarum AG15 in Dairy Technology

The article presents the comprehensive study results of the technological and antioxidant potential of the Lactoplantibacillus plantarum AG15 strain recaptured from silage and demonstrating probiotic properties during dairy products fermentation. The work aims at determining influence of the L. plantarum AG 15 strain on the antioxidant characteristics of the creamy milk; and identifying the strain introduction potential in the hard cheese technology. The authors applied a step-by-step research scheme with the technological and antioxidant potential assessment of a non-starter strain of lactic acid bacteria L. plantarum AG15 under conditions of milk fermentation and cheese maturation. A man used strain L. plantarum AG15 for fatty milk fermentation and compared its effect with the starter strain Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Compared to L. bulgaricus, L. plantarum AG15 has lower acid-forming ability, forms a dense lactic acid gel with the high syneresis level. Milk fermented by the L. plantarum AG15 strain has greater antioxidant activity (tests for reducing and radical-binding ability), which reduces the accumulation level of malonic aldehyde in milk fat during storage. Considering the identified antioxidant and technological potential, at the next stage, the researchers used L. plantarum AG15 strain as a part of a cheese starter to produce semi-hard cheese. The additional introduction of the non-starter strain L. plantarum AG15 does not affect the chemical quality of cheese (moisture, protein and salt content), but improves its antioxidant properties, leading to a decrease in the milk fat oxidation. Changes in the microbial community structure of the starter culture through the introduction of a non-starter strain L. plantarum AG15 enables to produce cheese with improved antioxidant properties and a more pronounced acrid flavor, expanding the production possibilities of high-quality cheeses with the diverse taste.