In vivo assessment of probioticated African Yam Bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa)- based milk analogue

This study investigated the in vivo effect of administration of probioticated African Yam Bean (AYB) based milk analogues on albino rats. Vegetable milk extracts were obtained from processed African Yam Bean, Soybean Seeds, and Coconut. The samples were mixed at different ratios of 1:1:1, 3:1:1, and 5:1:1 (African Yam Bean: Soybean: Coconut) as A, B, and C, respectively. The blended milk analogues were fermented using Lactobacillus delbrueckii isolated from Kununzaki drink. The effect of the fermented milk analogues on the intestinal tract and the serum of the albino rats was also investigated. This strain inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, a selected food-borne pathogen in vivo. Animals fed with only E. coli had the highest AST and ALT values of 79.31 and 24.59 IU/L respectively. Animals fed with sample B1 had the lowest ALT value of 16.24 IU/L. The weight gain was highest in animals fed with only probiotic drink sample. The histopathological examination showed the protective effect of the group dosed with the probiotic drink alone and the ones fed with a higher proportion of AYB. The study concluded that probioticated African yam bean drink exhibited health-promoting effect in vivo on the experimental animals and hence could be used as probiotic drink.