Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hyaluronic acid has several clinical applications. Recent evidences suggested antimicrobial properties against several pathogens. The aim of the present survey was to evaluate the effect of hyaluronic acid, alone or in combination with hyaluronidase, on protechnological or probiotic strains. RESULTS: The role of hyaluronic acid and hyaluronidase on in vitro growth rate of different lactic acid bacteria was investigated. Standard methods revealed that low concentrations of hyaluronic acid (0.5-0.125 mg ml(-1)), and hyaluronidase at fixed concentration (1.6 mg ml(-1)), resulted in an increased bacterial strains growth up to 72 hours whereas higher concentrations of the acid (2 and 1 mg ml(-1)), and hyaluronidase at the same fixed concentration, reduced the bacterial growth. CONCLUSIONS: Observations might suggest a possible protective role of both hyaluronidase and low doses of hyaluronic acid towards some strains, supporting their in vivo proliferation and engraftment after oral administration. Hyaluronidase introduction into growth medium greatly enhanced the bacterial growth up to 72 hours.