- Kefiran
Kefiran is the clear or pale yellow
polysaccharide gel exuded bydairy kefir grains.Dairy kefir grains are symbiotic consortia of
bacteria andyeasts which ferment milk containing the complex sugarlactose . Kefiran has been shown to exhibit certainmedicinal qualities, and it contributes to the organoleptic (mouthfeel ) qualities of kefir. Bacteria that produce kefiran have been identified as "Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens " and "Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus".References
* Maeda H, Zhu X, Omura K, Suzuki S, Kitamura S (2004). Effects of an exopolysaccharide (kefiran) on lipids, blood pressure, blood glucose, and constipation. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15630283&dopt=Abstract Abstract]
* Maeda H, Zhu X, Suzuki S, Suzuki K, Kitamura S (2004). Structural characterization and biological activities of an exopolysaccharide kefiran produced by Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens WT-2B(T). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15315396&dopt=Abstract Abstract]
* Frengova GI, Simova ED, Beshkova DM, Simov ZI (2002). Exopolysaccharides produced by lactic acid bacteria of kefir grains. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12440716&dopt=Abstract Abstract]
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