• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2000

The effect of levanheptaose produced by levanase from Streptomyces sp. 366L on principle intestinal microflora was investigated. The reaction product, levanheptaose, was used as a carbon source for various intestinal microflora. As a results, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Eubacterium limosum grew effectively in the in vitro experiment, whereas Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus did not. Therefore levanheptaose seems to promote selectively the growth of B. adolescentis and L. acidophilus. In the in vivo experiment, the effect of levanheptaose on the growth of intestinal microflora, $\beta$-fructosidase activity, pH, and butyrate concentration were examined in rats. Apparently, the number of fecal Bifidobacteria, the amount of butyrate, and $\beta$-fructosidase activity were increased, whereas total aerobes and pH were reduced in rats fed by levanheptaose diets, compared with those of control diets. We concluded that those effects may be beneficial in improving gastrointestinal health.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1998.10b
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• pp.277.2-277
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• 1998

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.1_2
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• pp.37-42
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• 1998

The microorganisms degrading levan were screened from soil. The isolated strain produced levanase releasing single oligosacchride from levan. The optimum cultural medium for levanase production (g/l) was composed of 0.5% levan, 0.1% $K_2HPO_4$, 0.05% NaCl, 0.3% $NaNO_3$, 0.3% yeast extract (pH 8.0). The cultivation for levanase production was carried out in 500 ml shaking flask containing 50 ml of the optimum medium at $30^{\circ}C$ on a reciprocal shaker, and the highest levanase production was observed after 54 hours of cultivation. The levanase hydrolyzed levan into single oligosaccharide. The product purified by chilled EtOH precipitation and gel filtration was detected as a single peak on HPLC analysis. The oligosaccharides formed by enzyme reaction was identified as levanheptaose (DP7) by HPLC and by ESI-MASS.