This study explores the use of sweet potato peels, a commonly discarded by-product, as a source of compounds that can promote the growth of specific Lactobacillus strains. Researchers used pulsed electric fields (PEF) to extract bioactive compounds from sweet potato peels, achieving a more efficient extraction compared to traditional methods. An increase in Lactobacillus growth was observed when cultivated in media supplemented with PEF extracts, particularly with the purple sweet potato variety. The research also revealed that PEF extracts enhanced the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by Lactobacillus strains, suggesting a potential prebiotic effect. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifset.2024.103590

More info: https://juancastagnini.github.io/