The probiotic composed of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was encapsulated by the method of immobilization in agar cubes, in order to provide a controlled release of the microorganism during simulated in vitro gastro-intestinal conditions (SGI). The following were used as encapsulating materials agar-agar (A-A), alginate (ALG), iota-carrageenan (I-CAR), gum Arabic (ARA), taro (TARO), yam (YAM), linseed (LIN) and okra (OKRA). A count was made of the yeast cells released from the different matrices during the simulation, and the viability of the non-encapsulated probiotic cells was also determined. Images were obtained by scanning electron microscopy to analyze and differentiate the treatments. The non-encapsulated cells showed 94 % (p < 0.05) viability. The treatments showed the following numerically increasing order of release of the yeast: OKRA<LIN<ALG<YAM<ARA<I-CAR<A-A<TARO. Treatments, could not be differentiated from the microphotographs, but, all the encapsulating materials coated the yeasts, providing physical protection. The presence of pores and cracks could be seen on the outside of the beads, witch may have favoured cell diffusion to the outside. The natural okra mucilage was shown to be the best alternative as an encapsulating material being more efficient than the commercial gums commonly found on the market.
Mucilages; yeast; encapsulation; gums; hydrocolloids
