Short communicationDetermination of phenolic acid decarboxylase produced by lactic acid bacteria isolated from shalgam (şalgam) juice using green analytical chemistry method

- Six of 21 isolates were detected to have phenolic acid decarboxylase activity.
- Significant number of the strains were Lactobacillus plantarum.
- The strains GK1, GK3, GK5, GK11 and GK13 reduced both p-coumaric and caffeic acid.
- Ethanol can be used instead of acetonitrile in the HPLC for determination of phenolics.

Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from Shalgam (Şalgam) juice samples and phenolic acid decarboxylase activity of the strains were examined by HPLC method. The isolates were identified with biochemical tests and according to the results a significant number of the strains were determined as Lactobacillus plantarum. The abilities of 21 selected isolates to decarboxylate p-coumaric, caffeic, ferulic, o-coumaric, gallic and sinapic acids were determined. Six isolates were detected to have phenolic acid decarboxylase activity. The strains GK1, GK3, GK5, GK11 and GK13 reduced both p-coumaric and caffeic acid, and all the strains except GK3 and GK12 could metabolize gallic acid to p-coumaric acid. Our results demonstrate that some important phenolics were produced by different lactic strains during Şalgam fermentation process and these strains could be declared as potential starter cultures. In this study phenolic acid decarboxylase (PAD) activity of lactic acid bacteria were also determined by HPLC method in which ethanol was used as a component of the mobile phase to avoid deleterious environmental side effects associated with acetonitrile. Accordingly, ethanol can be used as a component of the mobile phase instead of acetonitrile in the HPLC method for the determination of phenolics.