Soymilk was fermented with five isolates of probiotic lactic acid bacteria and in combination with probiotic yeast
Saccharomyces boulardii. Nutritional profile like fat, protein, ash, pH, acidity, polyphenol, and protein hydrolysis were analyzed. Polyphenol content
decreased from 265.88 to 119 μg/ml with different cultures. Protein hydrolysis ranged from 2.46 to 2.83 mmol l
−1 with different cultures. The antioxidant activity was assessed using different methods like 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
free radical-scavenging assay, inhibition of ascorbate autoxidation, and measurement of reducing activity. The activities
varied with the starters used but, nevertheless, were significantly higher than those found in unfermented soymilk. Bioconversion
of the isoflavone glucosides (daidzin + genistin) into their corresponding bioactive aglycones (daidzein + genistein) was
observed during soymilk fermentation. Total glucosides in soyamilk were 26.35 mg/100 ml. In contrast, aglycones genistein
and daidzein were quantitatively lesser accounting 2.91 mg/100 ml (genistein 1.17 mg/100 ml and daidzein 1.19 mg/100 ml).
Soymilk fermented with probiotic cultures resulted in the reduction of glycosides ranging from 0.40 mg to 1.36 mg/100 ml and
increase in aglycones ranging from 6.32 mg to 13.66 mg/100 ml.
Keywords Antioxidant activity - Biomolecule - Isoflavones - Polyphenol - Probiotic -
S. boulardii