This research investigates the enhancement of acetic acid production in the mangosteen vinegar fermentation process through mixed-culture fermentation involving S. cerevisiae TISTR 5279 and G. oxydans TBRC 4013, alongside an analysis of the resulting mangosteen vinegar's qualities and properties using Taguchi Experimental Design (TED). It focuses on key parameters, such as the juice concentration, inoculum ratio, and pasteurization conditions, to optimize acetic acid production. The findings highlight that the unpasteurized condition exerts the most significant influence on acetic acid production yield (p < 0.01), followed by the 3:1 inoculum ratio of S. cerevisiae TISTR 5279 to G. oxydans TBRC 4013 and a 10% mangosteen concentration. The achieved theoretical maximum yield of acetic acid on day 21 was 85.23 ± 0.30%, close to the predicted 85.33% (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the highest recorded acetic acid concentration reached 5.34 ± 0.92%. On day 14 of fermentation, the maximum productivity and yield were 3.81 ± 0.10 g/L/h and 0.54 ± 0.22 g/g, respectively. The resulting mangosteen vinegar exhibited elevated levels of total phenolic content (359.67 ± 47.26 mg GAE/100 mL), total flavonoid content (12.96 ± 0.65 mg CAE/100 mL), and anti-DPPH radical activity (17.67 ± 0.22%), suggesting potential health benefits. Beyond these chemical aspects, the mangosteen vinegar displayed distinct physical and chemical characteristics from the original mangosteen juice, possibly conferring additional health advantages. These findings are promising for industrial vinegar fermentation models and propose the potential use of the product as a valuable dietary supplement.
Keywords: Gluconobacter oxydans; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; mangosteen; mixed culture; vinegar.