Conventional fermentation of cabbage like in sauerkraut production leads to a complete elimination of glucosinolates (GSs). In order to retain GSs in fermented cabbage, the effect of a thermal treatment (blanching) followed by fermentation (4% brine at 25 °C) by the probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei LMG P22043, was investigated. After 71 h fermentation the probiotic blanched cabbage still contained 27.2 ± 2.3 μmol/100 g GSs, corresponding to the 35% of the total GSs before fermentation. A final count of L. paracasei of 8.26 ± 1.2 log10 CFU/g, and a final pH of 4.12 ± 0.1 were reached. After 30 days of refrigerated vacuum packed storage, 23.7 ± 1.5 μmol/100 g of GSs still persisted. In the control cabbage (blanched and not inoculated with L. paracasei) no fermentation occurred and as a result final pH was 6.10 ± 0.21, leading to a product not suitable for storage and consumption. Compared to traditional sauerkraut the final product has the advantage of containing a high content of phytochemicals in combination with a high count of live probiotic bacterial cells.

Keywords: Glucosinolates; Probiotics; Fermentation; Biopreservation; Brassica vegetable; Lactobacillus paracasei probiotic bacterial cells.