4. Conclusions
This study demonstrated, for the first time, the amylolytic activity in commercial probiotic strains L. acidophilus Lafti L10, L. casei Lafti L26 and B. animalis subsp. lactis Lafti B94. However, the association of the probiotic strains to amylolytic bacteria L. fermentum Ogi E1 and L. plantarum A6 was necessary to reduce the pH, the fermentation time and the apparent viscosity of a rice/soy milk gruel and obtain a yoghurt-like product. The addition of passion fruit fiber exerted less influence on the apparent viscosity of the fermented products than the composition of the bacterial cultures. Photomicrographs suggest production of exopolysaccharides by amylolytic lactic acid bacteria strains