Physicochemical and antioxidant properties of a gastroprotective exopolysaccharide produced by Streptococcus thermophilus CRL1190

The exopolysaccharide EPS1190 was isolated with high purity from skim milk fermented by the strain Streptococcus thermophilus CRL1190, the major EPS amount being recovered at stationary growth-phase (70.7 mg/L after 16 h). This polymer revealed moderate antioxidant activity in vitro and useful technological properties such as good emulsifying and flocculating capacity at low concentrations, high aqueous solubility (9.1 mg/mL), water and oil holding capacity (528.5% and 1266%, respectively) as well as thermal behavior. Thermogravimetric, Differential Thermal Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry curves showed that the biopolymer was thermally stable up to 216 °C with a crystalline deformation in an endothermic process (△H = 284.46 J) at a melting temperature of 74.08 °C. Furthermore, a degradation temperature (Td) of 295.4 °C was observed. These results postulate that EPS1190 could be used in the food industry due to its special micro-structure (scanning electron microscopy of EPS1190 demonstrated a homogeneous matrix with micro-porous and rough structure), its good performance and functionality in both aqueous and oil systems, which would remain at high temperatures.