Evaluation of Lactic Acid Bacteria for the Resistance to Endocrine Disruptors

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals which can be found in our normal daily life. They can be easily ingested through plastic food containers, pesticides, etc. They include DDT, bisphenol A, benzophenone and phenylphenol, etc. Endocrine disruptor can be very harmful and toxic because it disrupts the normal function of the endogenous endocrine system. It has been reported that endocrine disruptor can cause the fatal strike in reproductive system central nervous system and the other part of the body. We have examined if the growth of lactic acid bacteria could be resistant to the endocrine disruptor. We have used Lactobacillus delbruekii as an experimental strain and benzophenone and phenylphenol for the comparison purpose. Experiments included the evaluation of turbidity, absorbance and actual cell counts. Although Lactobacillus delbruekii showed the higher resistance to benzophenone than phenylphenol it was still resistant to both benzophenone and phenylphenol. Because the experimental concentrations of benzophenone and phenylphenol were so high to compare with the actual concentration we meet in daily life, Lactobacillus delbruekii was considered to be sufficient to survive in the environmental concentration of these endocrine disruptors. This study should contribute to the development of fermented beverage with beneficial effect by lactic acid bacteria.