Abstract
Trehalose(TRE)was used to improve the gastrointestinal tolerance of Lactobacillus plantarum embedded with whey protein concentrate/pullulan(WPC/PUL)hydrogel and the embedded L.plantarum was applied to juice.The study indicated that 5%TRE significantly increased the viable counts of L.plantarum embedded in WPC/PUL hydrogel from(8.83±0.03)to(9.14±0.04)(lg(CFU/g))in simulated gastric juice(SGJ)and from(9.13±0.04)to(9.38±0.04)(lg(CFU/g))in simulated intestinal juice,respectively.The addition of TRE improved the glass transition temperature of WPC/PUL hydrogel and decreased the hardness and its solubility in SGJ,which may be responsible for the improved protection of WPC/PUL hydrogels on L.plantarum.In addition,TRE increased the viable counts of L.plantarum in WPC/PUL probiotic microcapsule juice at low pH and high temperature during storage.