HEALTH BENEFITS OF SOME VIABLE AND NONVIABLE MICROORGANISMS

In Vitro Cholesterol reducing ability, β- galactosidase, antioxidant, antitumor and antibacterial activity of L. acidophilus La-5,L. casei - 01, L. helveticus Lh. B 02,  B. bifidum Bb-12, K. lactis NRRL Y- 8279 and Sacch. cerevisiae DSMZ 70 449 were investigated.Results obtained showed that all strains were able to reduce cholesterol and had β- galactosidase activity especially yeast strains and the viable form (free and microencapsulated) of all microbial stains had higher cholesterol reducing ability and β- galactosidase activity than nonviable form.Howeverthe nonviable form of all tested microorganisms had the highest antioxidant power compared with the others. The yeast strains had higher antioxidant activity than bacterial strains in the different forms. All strains in different forms exhibited antitumor activity by using potato disc assay. Antibacterial activity was observed in lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium strains against spoilage and pathogenic bacteria.