Optimization of Bacteriocin Production by Lactobacillus fermentum Strain COE20 from Fermenting Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth Using Response Surface Methodology

This study evaluated the effect of varied culture conditions (Temperature, pH, and Sodium Chloride concentration) on bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus fermentum strain COE20 isolated from fermenting African oil bean seeds (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). A Central Composite Design (CCD) was adopted with the interest of estimating the optimal conditions for its production using the response surface regression model, which estimated the linear, squared, and interactive relationship between the response variables. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed that the coefficient of determination in terms of predicted R2 was 0.8697 which was in close agreement with an adjusted R2 of 0.7393 and was accounted for by the predictors suggesting that the model was adequate. Optimal culture condition for bacteriocin production by L. fermentum strain COE20 was found at approximately 31°C, pH 5.9, 1.9% NaCl concentration at Y = 11.75mm. Y represents the response (zone of inhibition) against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 19095 using the agar well diffusion assay method.