Molecular characterization of an exopolysaccharide from a probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum MTCC 9510 and its efficacy to improve the texture of starchy food.

The weight average molecular weight (Mw), number average molecular weight (Mn) and size average molecular weight (Mz) of an exopolysaccharide from probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum MTCC 9510 was found to be 2.68 × 10(5) Da, 2.55 × 10(5) Da and 2.83 × 10(5) Da, respectively by Gel permeation Chromatography employing the third order polynomial model. The polydispersity index (Mw/Mn) of the polysaccharide was obtained as 1.05. The exopolysaccharide and the starch-exopolysaccharide hydrocolloid exhibited a non-Newtonian and pseudo-plastic behaviour with improvement in the texture of starch containing food by preventing syneresis.