Objective      To determine the effect of coconut juice on the growth of 4 strains of Bifidobacterium in vitro.       Methods      Four strains of common Bifidobacterium were employed as the tested bacteria. The variation of OD

600

values

pH values

plate counts of bacteria liquid

coagulation time of the fermented milk and its pH values were investigated for the effect of coconut juice on proliferation of 4 strains.       Results      Coconut juice of 25% (V/V) resulted in significantly higher light density values and live bacteria count in the 4 strains compared with blank control group (P0.05)

with Bifidobacterium bifidum

Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Bifidobacterium longum even higher than positive control group (P0.

05). After coconut juice was added into fermenting milk with 4 strains of Bifidobacterium

coagulation time of the fermented milk of Bifidobacterium bifidum

Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Bifidobacterium longum was significantly shortened

compared with the blank control group and the positive control group (P0.05)

except the Bifidobacterium infantis. However

the pH values of the 4 strains were all lower than that of the blank control group and the positive control group (P0.05).       Conclusion      Coconut juice may become a kind of good bifidogenic factors

and can be used as the natural medium for Bifidobacterium.