The Effect of Echium amoenum Hydro-alcoholic Extract on the Growth of Probiotic Bacteria Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium Bifidum in Kefir

Background: Echium amoenum have antibacterial, anti-anxiety, antinociceptive and anticonvulsant effects. This study was carried out to study the effect of Echium amoenum hydro-alcoholic extract on growth of probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum in kefir. Material and Methods: For this purpose, 13 treatments with different concentrations (Echium amoenum hydro-alcoholic extract with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum) were produced separately or jointly. The treatments including: 1-sham: 110 g of kefir, 2, 3 and 4 treatments: respectively, kefir containing 3, 6 and 9 grams of hydro-alcoholic extract of Echium amoenum, treatments 5, 6, and 7: respectively, kefir containing 11 grams of hydro-alcoholic extract of Echium amoenum and 0.1 and 0.3 and 0.6 grams of lactobacillus acidophilus, treatments 8, 9, and 10: respectively, kefir containing 11 grams of hydro-alcoholic extract of Echium amoenum, and 0,1, 0,3 and 0,6 grams of bifidobacterium, bifidum, 11 treatment: kefir containing 11 grams of hydro-alcoholic extract of Echium amoenum and 0.05 grams of lactobacillus acidophilus and 0.05 grams of bifidobacterium bifidum, 12 treatment: Kefir containing 11 g of hydro-alcoholic extract of Echium amoenum and 0.15 g of lactobacillus acidophilus and 0.15 g of bifidobacterium bifidum, 13 treatment: Kefir containing 11 g of hydro-alcoholic extract of Echium amoenum and 0.3 g of lactobacillus acidophilus and 0.3 g of bifidobacterium bifidum.The specimens were then incubated at 30 ° C for 12 hours and then the products were placed in a refrigerator. After production of each of the above products, during the storage period of each of the samples on days 1, 7, 14, 21, they were tested for acidity and PH. Bacterial counting was done in two direct and cultures in the first and third weeks. The results were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The highest acidity was at the time of production and maintenance of treatment 4. The highest PH at the time of storage was for treatment 6 and treatment 11. In the direct microbial count in the first week, the highest number of bacteria counted was related to treatment 6 and in the third week, the highest number of bacteria counted in the direct microbial count was related to treatment 13. Plate culture count in the first week has the highest number of treatments 4 and in the third week, the highest number of bacteria counted by Plate culture method is for treatment 2. Conclusion: Echium amoenum extract caused the survival and even increased growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum bacteria.