The Effect of Cinnamon on Microbiological, Chemical and Sensory Analyses of Probiotic Yogurt

Ayşe GÜNEŞ BAYIR; Mehmet Gültekin BİLGİN

doi:10.14235/bas.galenos.2018.2628

ABSTRACT

Objective:

This study was performed with the aim of determining the effects of different levels of cinnamon which were added to probiotic yogurts on the microbiological, chemical and sensory properties of these yogurts

Methods:

In this study, probiotic yogurt was produced using yogurt and probiotic yogurt cultures. Yogurts are divided into four groups; control, cinnamon 1, cinnamon 2 and cinnamon 3 groups. To the groups, 0%, 0.3%, 1% and 2.5% of powdered cinnamon were added, respectively. Content analysis of cinnamon used in the study was conducted by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry method.

Results:

The addition of cinnamon to probiotic yogurt showed antibacterial activity on Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis while cinnamon depending on its concentration was found to support bacterial growth of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. The pH values and the fat-free dry matter ratios varied depending on the proportion of cinnamon added to the yogurts. When the sensory characteristics of yogurt were compared, the score of the control group was higher than the score of cinnamon groups. On the other hand, cinnamon (1%) group had the closest score to the sensory analysis score of the control group.

Conclusion:

These results have shown that cinnamon added at different ratios in probiotic yogurt has a limited positive effect on the microbial, chemical and sensory properties of this food.

Keywords:

Cinnamon, functional food, probiotic yogurt, probiotic bacteria, yogurt bacteria

Introduction

Probiotics are available in the market as food and nutritional supplements. Probiotics, as functional food group, play a role in protection and development of health, and treatment of diseases. Probiotics are recommended especially in cases of gastrointestinal disorders, atopic dermatitis and food intolerance (1). Probiotic has been described as a “living microbial dietary supplement” that positively affects the host’s intestinal pathways (2). Probiotic bacteria boost the immunity in individuals as well as reduce fecal enzymes and mutagenicity. The nutritional sources of probiotics include fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, cheese, pickles and raw sausage, which contain probiotic bacteria and/or yeasts (3). The probiotic property of a food is based on its medical activity, the number of active cells or the total number of living cells per mL (4). A probiotic food must contain at least 1.0x10⁶ colony-forming units (cfu)/g of living probiotic microorganisms (5).

Yogurt has an important role in our nutrition but also has a therapeutic role in the protection and development of health (6). Yogurt is briefly defined as a clot formed by fermentation and precipitation of milk proteins (7). Yogurt is traditionally produced by fermentation of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus starter culture (8). Most of the classic yogurt cultures used in the fermentation of yogurt are unable to survive in the intestines after individuals consume the yogurt due to its low pH value (9). Therefore, prophylactic use of yogurt is limited. However, on the other hand, this limitation encourages the production of different types of yogurts with different starter culture formulations. In particular, the use of probiotic cultures consisting of Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacteria in yogurt production is increasing (10). Thus, yogurt gains prophylactic and therapeutic value. Vitamins and enzymes produced by lactic acid bacteria contribute to host metabolism, while antimicrobial agents produced control the proliferation of undesired pathogens in the host (6). It has been reported in several studies that these bacteria and other probiotic bacteria possess tumor suppression properties by reducing mutagenic, carcinogenic and genotoxic components in colorectal cancer, which is the third most common cancer in the world (11).

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum) is derived from a tree belonging to the family Lauraceae. In studies, antioxidant, insecticide, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombosis and analgesic effects of cinnamon have been reported (12). Many studies have shown that the components of cinnamon oil or its extract has an inhibitory effect on pathogenic microorganisms by 75-100% (13). Cinnamon as the main component of , cinnamaldehyde, has antibacterial properties by inhibiting the synthesis and function of bacteria cell wall, the synthesis of nucleic acid and protein. The shelf life of the product was investigated in a study conducted by adding different amounts of cinnamon powder (0.3%, 1% and 2.5%) to pasteurized milk (14). In this study, it was determined that the number of lactic acid bacteria in milk, in which cinnamon was added, was low compared to the control group in which cinnamon was not added. In another study, powder cinnamon in different concentrations did not have an antibacterial effect on Staphylococcus aureus, because the buffering capacity of milk and yogurt neutralized the acidity of cinnamon (15). But powdered cinnamon has had a positive effect on the sensory quality of milk and yogurt.

In this study, probiotic yogurts with cinnamon added in different proportions were produced and the effect of cinnamon on microbiological, chemical and sensory properties of these yogurts was investigated.

Method

Results

The volatile oils found in powdered cinnamon are listed as follows from high to low amounts, respectively: cinnamaldehyde, alpha-Coapene, caryophyllene, eucalyptol and others. Cinnamon powder volatile oil GC-MS chromatogram is shown in Figure 1.

The number of Streptococcus thermophilus, a yogurt culture bacterium, was higher in the control group than in cinnamon-doped yogurt (1% and 2.5%) groups (Figure 2). On the other hand, the number of these bacteria decreased in yogurts due to the increased cinnamon rate.The number of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, a yogurt culture bacterium, was similar in the control group and in 1% and 2.5% cinnamon-doped yogurt groups (Figure 2). Only a statistically significant difference was found between the control group and cinnamon 1 (0.3%) group (p<0.05).The number of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis was significantly higher in the control group than the cinnamon groups (p<0.05) (Figure 2). There was no statistically significant difference between the cinnamon groups. Lactobacillus acidophilus, another probiotic bacterium used in the study, was statistically significantly higher in the control group compared to the cinnamon-added yogurts (p<0.05) (Figure 2).

The results of the chemical analyses of probiotic yogurt groups are presented in Table 1 with average amounts and standard deviations of % fat, % non-fat dry matter, % protein, % lactic acid and pH values together. The fat ratio of the control group (3.3±0.1%) was found to be higher than all cinnamon groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the results. Cinnamon-added (0.3%) yogurts had the lowest fat-free dry matter ratio, while the fat-free dry matter ratio also increased due to the increased cinnamon ratio. Statistically significant difference was found between all groups (p<0.05). The protein ratios of all yogurt groups, including the control group, were the same. Titration acidity of the control group was significantly higher than all cinnamon groups (p<0.05). On the other hand, titration acidity decreased due to the increased cinnamon rate. The pH value of the control group was significantly lower than the cinnamon groups (p<0.05). The pH value of yogurts increased due to the increased cinnamon ratio (4.06±0.08, 4.07±0.06 and 4.27±0.01 respectively).

When the sensory analysis of yogurts was scored, the control group received the highest score (160 points) in total, while the closest value to this score was in 0.3% cinnamon-added yogurt. Sensory analysis scores of yogurts with 1% and 2.5% cinnamon addition were found to be close to each other.

Discussion

Probiotics are microorganisms that are alive and can produce substances that encourage the reproduction of other microorganisms (22). However, the effects of these microorganisms depend on the strain to which they belong and the dose in the product in which they are found. On the other hand, the survival, growth and viability of these microorganisms are affected by the stages of production of probiotic food (23). It has been reported in various in vitro, in vivo and human studies that probiotic microorganisms in the product must be more than 1.0 x 10⁶ cfu/g in order for a probiotic food to have therapeutic effect (24). In our study, the number of probiotic bacteria was more than 1.0x10⁶ cfu in each gram of all produced probiotic yogurts.

Cinnamon is widely used in the food industry because of its antioxidant effects, colour and flavoring properties, as well as in the medical, cosmetic, perfumery and nutraceutical industries (13). Scientific studies also report that cinnamon has antibacterial effect besides its many bioactivities (12,13). On the other hand, cinnamon increases the safety of food products against foodborne pathogens and food-spoiling bacteria due to its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties and extends shelf life (12). This is why cinnamon is an effective food preservative. The inhibiting effect of cinnamon on the development of Staphylococcus aureus, which is particularly contagious to food, is due to its various chemicals contained in cinnamon (25). The most important chemical component in cinnamon is cinnamaldehyde, which has been reported to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus. As a result of GC-MS analysis of the cinnamon used in our study, cinnamaldehyde was found highest.

The antibacterial effect of cinnamon on gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria that cause infectious diseases in humans and on Salmonella typhimurium, S. aureus, E. coli, Arcobacter butzeiri and Arcobacter skirrowii that are food and cosmetic disrupting agents and lead to major public health problems has been shown in studies (12). In our study, for the first time, the effect of cinnamon spice on yogurt and probiotic yogurt starter cultures was investigated. In all cinnamon groups, the number of B. animalis ssp. lactis and L. acidophilus probiotic bacteria decreased statistically significantly compared to the control group. The results of a study performed with L. rhamnosus, a probiotic bacterium, supports our findings. The number of L. rhamnosus was found to be lower in the cinnamon volatile oil-added (0.04%) yogurts compared with the control group (26). In our study, the number of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, a yogurt culture bacterium, increased as the ratio of cinnamon increased and the number of this bacterium was found to be lowest in the yogurt containing the lowest level of cinnamon (0.3%). Also, the ratio of cinnamon added affected the sensory analysis result of probiotic yogurts. Sensory analysis evaluation scores and number of Sc. thermophilus were similar in the control group and cinnamon 1 (0.3%) group. In a study, a positive correlation was found between sensory quality of yoghurts and the number of Sc. thermophilus, which supports our findings (27). In the same study, was reported that the number of B. bifidum had a positive effect on the sensory quality of yogurt, and in our study, the sensory quality of the control group and the number of B. animalis ssp. lactis in the control group was found to be higher than other groups.

The fat ratio of probiotic yogurts produced in the study was higher than the fat ratio of milk used (3%). The average fat ratio of all groups was %3.2±0.5%. It has been observed that the fat ratios of yogurt groups to which cinnamon was added was not affected by cinnamon. A study by Lindasari (28) found that the fat ratio decreased as the rate of cinnamon extract added increased in probiotic yogurts made from goat’s milk with 3%, 4%, 5% cinnamon extract added (fat ratios were 6.40±1.22%, 6.30±0.54% and 5.70±1.49%, respectively). The fat-free dry matter ratios of cinnamon-added probiotic yogurts were higher than the control group and the average of all groups was 8.62±0.69%. A study of probiotic yogurts produced by adding prebiotics also supports our results (29). The protein ratios of the yogurts we produced were the same (3.54%). This can be attributed to very low protein content in cinnamon (30). On the other hand, the study of probiotic yogurts with cinnamon extract added showed that there was no correlation between the groups in terms of protein ratio (4.03±0.32%, 3.84±0.38% and 4.16±0.69%, respectively) (28). Titration acidity was lower in cinnamon groups compared to the control group and a decrease was found due to cinnamon ratio (%0.97±0.05 in control group, %0.87±0.05 in cinnamon 1, %0.86±0.02 in cinnamon 2 and %0.74±0.01 in cinnamon 3). In a study, it was reported that no change in acidity and pH of probiotic yogurts produced from cow and camel milk with cinnamon added was observed (31). In another study, titration acidity and pH values confirmed each other (1.66±0.15%, 1.69±0.01% and 1.87±0.12%) (28). In our study, the pH value of the control group (3.98±0.08) was significantly lower than the cinnamon groups. In addition, the pH value of cinnamon groups increased due to the increased rate of cinnamon. On the other hand, in probiotic yogurts made from goat’s milk with cinnamon extract (3%, 4% and 5%), pH values were lower compared to the control group, regardless of the rate of cinnamon extract (28).

Cinnamon 1 and 2 groups with similar acidity values were also found to be close in total acceptability scores as a result of sensory analysis. In a study of probiotic yogurts with banana additives, it was reported that there was an association between acceptability of yogurts as a result of analysis of sensory properties of yogurts and acidity of yogurts (27).

Conclusion

As a result, cinnamon added to probiotic yogurt has been shown to improve the microbial and chemical quality of the product and to have limited positive effects on sensory properties.

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