Screening of Lactic Acid Bacteria for Production of GABA-Enriched Non-Centrifugal Brown Sugar "Kokuto", Isolated from Sugar Cane Bagasse

Abstract

　Novel lactic acid bacteria Enterococcus sp. AG34 was isolated from sugar cane bagasse. AG34 was grown in sugar cane juice and produced γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), for which addition of yeast extract was not necessary. AG34 was inoculated into sugar cane juice containing 0.2% sodium glutamate and cultured at 30℃. GABA-enriched Kokuto containing 357.4 mg GABA per 100 g Kokuto was made from juice that was fermented for 24 h. In addition, the data suggested that AG34 does not produce any substance that inhibits the solidification of Kokuto.