Sri Lankan Finger Millet (Elucine coracana) Variety ‘Raavana’ as Potential Probiotic Source

This study aims to isolate and identify probiotic potential lactic acid bacteria from fermented Sri Lankan finger millet variety "Raavana" and to investigate the probiotic characteristics, in vitro safety and efficacy. A bacterial isolate with typical lactic acid bacterial phenotypic and biochemical characteristics was isolated and identified. Partial sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of the Sri Lankan strain was deposited in the NCBI gene bank as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis FM_19LAB and the accession number MF480428 was obtained. It did not demonstrate hemolysis, DNase, gelatine hydrolysis activity as well as did not acquire complete resistance to any of the antibiotics tested hence indicating the safety. Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis FM_19LAB had the capacity to tolerate different concentrations of acid, bile, phenol, salt, simulated gastric juices and range of temperatures. Further it exhibited anti-microbial, anticancer and anti-oxidant activities. Further, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis FM_19LAB assimilated cholesterol and produced lactic acid during the fermentation

Isolation and identification of lactic acid bacteria with probiotic potential from fermented flour of selected banana varieties grown in Sri Lanka

This study aimed at isolating and identifying lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with probiotic potential from fermented flour of selected banana varieties grown in Sri Lanka and evaluating their probiotic and safety attributes in vitro. Ten lactic acid bacteria were isolated from six varieties of fermented banana flour, kolikuttu, seeni parakum, ambul nadee, ambum, seeni and anamalu. The isolates were screened for phenotypical and biochemical characteristics. The selected isolates were identified by 16 S rRNA sequencing as Enterococcus durans (two strains), E. gallinarum, E. hirae, E. faecium (two strains), Lactobacillus plantarum, L. curieae, Weissella cibaria and Pediococcus acidilactici and their partial sequences were deposited in NCBI. Among them, six isolates were selected based on the results of in vitro safety attributes and evaluated for their probiotic attributes. Three isolates, namely, E. durans MF405179.1, E. faecium MF574466.1 and L. curieae MF405178.1 isolated from kolikuttu, seeni parakum and ambul nadee, respectively demonstrated tolerance to acid, gastric juice, bile, salt, phenol and temperature under gastric conditions, and also showed susceptibility to tested antibiotics. Among the selected isolates, E. durans MF405179.1 demonstrated the highest hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation of 69.91 % and 76.53 %, respectively. Further, it exhibited highest adhesion to both HCT116 and HT29 cell lines demonstrating 72.5 % and 74.16 % adhesion, respectively. This is the first report of isolation and characterisation of LAB strains with probiotic potential from flour of banana varieties kolikuttu, seeni parakum, ambul nadee, ambum, seeni and anamalu grown in Sri Lanka

Lactic acid bacteria isolated from fermented flour of finger millet, its probiotic attributes and bioactive properties

This study aims to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria from fermented flour of selected finger millet varieties grown in Sri Lanka and to evaluate their probiotic attributes and bioactive properties in vitro. Fifteen lactic acid bacteria were isolated from three varieties of fermented finger millet flour namely ravi, raavana and oshadha. These isolates were screened for phenotypical and biochemical characteristics. The selected isolates were identified by 16 S rRNA sequencing as Bacillus cereus (five strains), Streptococcus lutetiensis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum (two strains), Brevibacillus borstelensis, Paenibacillus species, Lactococcus lactis subspecies lactis, Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus acidilactici, and Enterococcus lactis, and their partial sequences were deposited in GenBank. Among them, five isolates including two isolates, L. plantarum MF405176.1 and L. fermentum MF033346.1 isolated from ravi; two isolates, L. lactis MF480428.1 and E. faecium MF480431.1 isolated from raavana; and P. acidilactici MF480434.1 isolated from oshadha varieties respectively, exhibited in vitro safety attributes and could tolerate acid, gastric juice, bile, salt, phenol, and temperature under simulated gastric conditions, and also were susceptible to antibiotics tested. Further, they demonstrated bactericidal activity against both drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant pathogens. Among the selected isolates, L. plantarum MF405176.1 demonstrated highest hydrophobicity and adhesion to both colon colorectal adenocarcinoma and colon colorectal carcinoma cell lines. L. lactis subspecies lactis MF480428.1 exhibited the highest auto-aggregation and 2, 2, diphenyl-1-pricrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity. P. acidilactici MF480434.1 demonstrated the lowest IC50 values against HCT-116 and HT-29 cells. None of the LAB isolates could assimilate > 10% cholesterol in vitro

A Model of Economic Determinants of International Visitor Flows to Australia: A Co-integration Analysis.

ECONOMIC MODELS;TOURISM

The Tourism Tax Burden: Evidence from Australia

This paper examines the structure, trends and magnitudes of tourism taxes in Australia. Of the two types of broad taxes, general and special, the former accounts for the largest portion of the total tax revenue: excise duties have been the single major contributor, accounting for more than half of the tax revenue in the 1990s. Following the tax reforms in 2000, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) became the major contributor to tax revenue. A comparison of estimated tourism taxes with comparable sectors indicates that the tourism sector overwhelmingly makes a high contribution to national tax revenue. Similarly, while tax revenue from the all sectors has grown over time, an above-average growth in the tourism taxes is evident, particularly since the introduction of the GST. In conclusion, the Australian tourism sector appears to bear a relatively high tax burden and the burden is rising. The GST, an important element of the tax reforms of 2000, seems to have imposed a disproportionately heavy tax burden on the tourism sector

Oral toxicity evaluation of probiotic strains isolated from Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] in Wistar rat models (in vivo)

This study evaluates the oral toxicity of five probiotic strains recently isolated from fermented flour of finger-millet (Eleusine coracana) varieties of Sri Lanka. Probiotic strains; Lactobacillus plantarum MF405176, Lactobacillus fermentum MF033346, Lactococcus lactis subspecies lactis MF480428, Enterococcus faecium MF480431and Pediococcus acidilactici MF480434 were evaluated for acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity in Wistars. Three individual doses (108 CFU/g, 1010 CFU/g and 1012 CFU/g) of each probiotic strain at single oral dose of 5000 mg/kg bw were orally administered to rats and observations were done till 14th day. Since no animals demonstrated signs of toxicity as a result of the administrated probiotics strains, repeated dose sub-chronic oral toxicity study was conducted by oral administration of three doses (108 CFU/g, 1010 CFU/g, 1012 CFU/g) of each probiotic strain at 1000 mg/kg bw/day for consecutive 90 days. Administration of probiotic strains to rats did not caused mortality in any of the tested doses. No changes in animal behavior, feed or water intake and negative effects on body weight observed. Probiotic feeding did not cause changes in analyzed biochemical and hematological parameters attributed to toxicity. Bacteremia, bacterial translocation and histopathological changes in rat organs were not observed. No significant difference in liver enzymes observed in treatment groups compared to control. In conclusion, all tested probiotic strains are nonpathogenic therefore could be considered as safe for human consumption

Economics of leisure and non-leisure tourist demand : a study of domestic demand for Australian tourism

This article analyses the economic determinants of demand for tourism goods and services by Australian households distinguished by the travel motives of leisure and non-leisure. Using tourist consumption data collected through quarterly national visitor surveys, two systems of demand equations are estimated, based on the almost ideal demand system and incorporating seasonality. The study aggregates itemized tourist expenditure data into five broad commodity groups: accommodation, food, transportation, shopping and entertainment. The estimated models obey the basic postulates of consumer theory – homogeneity and symmetry. Overall, demand for the five commodity aggregates is found to be price inelastic, while the degree of price sensitivity varies across the commodity aggregates and between the two types of tourists. In general, demand by leisure tourists is found to be more sensitive to price than demand by non-leisure tourists. The cross-price elasticities derived from both models reveal a gross complementarity of demand, implying that tourists’ overall utility depends on the joint consumption of a bundle of goods and services. The observed price-inelastic demand, coupled with the apparent complementarity of demand, may reflect the possibility that latent price sensitivity is associated with tourist demand