Changes in Lactic Acid Concentrations in Culture Media and its Implications in the Inhibition of Fungal Development

Abstract

J Hinojosa Laso

Background and Aims: Lactic acid has been shown to have a negative effect on the chemical activity of fungal cell membranes and is therefore proposed to be used as an antifungal agent in growth media.

Methods In the current study, an 88% lactic acid solution was used to produce agar solutions for culture media to assess the extent to which lactic acid can inhibit fungal growth. Subsequently, a quadrant sampling technique and a statistical study were used to measure the extent to which lactic acid can inhibit the growth of fungi.

Key Results An inversely proportional correlation was found where lactic acid inhibited fungal growth. Specifically, the minimum inhibitory concentration of lactic acid was 20% and the results were supported by mathematical correlation and a statistical T-test, where 95% reliability was assumed.

Conclusions These results are consistent with the limited research into the molecular pathways of lactic acid in fungal organisms, which estab- lishes, as in this research, that lactic acid negatively affects fungi and their development in culture media.

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