# Online Database for Retrieval Information about Prebiotics and Their Activity
## 3 Results  
### The ODRAP Database  
Conceptual and logical models of the database were first developed. The _in vitro_ studies were our main focus. Database tables were attached to each object in the conceptual model, containing the corresponding object attributes, and relationships between tables in the logical model were established using primary keys. This is reflected in the infological diagram of the database (Figure 1) which reflects the relationships between these data groups were defined. One medium can be applied for the fermentation of different probiotics, a given probiotic can be used with different prebiotics, one cultivation method can be applied to different prebiotics, one set of metabolites can be suitable for different prebiotics, and so on [40,41]. Figure 1: Infological diagram of the database, which reflects the relation between all data groups (1 means one parameter from one group, \(\infty\) means many different parameters from another group, for example, one medium can be applied for the fermentation for different prebiotic tests). The database includes 12 main and auxiliary tables which describe the parameters of the main elements. The table <<Activity>> (Figure 2) contains information about the main physiological features of the micro-organisms [42; 43; 44]. Such parameters as final pH of fermentation, viable micro-organisms count, optical density, and information about the flowrate and growth rate, as well as methods for prebiotic activity definition: prebiotic activity score (PAS), measure of the prebiotic effect (MPE), prebiotic index (PI), symbiotic index (SI), and symbiotic factor (SF), are highlighted [45]. The cultivation conditions are contained in the table <<Condition>>, which are pH, temperature, atmosphere, and time [46; 47]. Figure 3 <<Prebio>> is key table stored data on prebiotic substances, source of origin, and information about manufacturer. Data on microbiological cultures and their features are concentrated in the table <<NameCult>> (Figure 4). In this part of the database, various types of micro-organisms, their genus, species, and strains are considered. For the methods using faecal cultures _Bifidobacteria_ and _Lactobacillus_ were indicated as probiotics. Although assumption is rather conditional it was introduced considering that the increasing of such bacteria count is associated with benefits for the human. Moreover, it was decided to simplify the structure of database. The following micro-organisms were taken into account for the methods based on the pure cultures fermentation: _Bifidobacterium animalis_ Bb-12, _Lactobacillus rhamn_ GG, _Bifidobacterium bifidum_, _Lactobacillus plantarum_, and so on. The test cultures for PAS or SF evaluation were recognized as probiotics by authors. While filling the tables, popular commercial probiotic micro-organisms were taken into account, as well as variants of mixed types developed by various researchers [48]. The table <<Author-Publication>> allows connection between the tables <<Author>> and <<Publication>>. These tables contain information about manuscripts published mainly over the past 20 years, including the name of author, title, topic and year of publication, title of journal, for example, Journal of functional foods, and etc. The table <<In vitro>>, being the key table, joins the main information from the tables <<Prebio>>, <<NameCult>>, <<Medium>>, <<Condition>>, <<Activity>>, <<Metabolites>>, and <<Author-Publication>>. Currently, ODRAP collects 25 bacteria genera or their combinations, 59 bacteria species, 140 prebiotic substances, 61 prebiotic production companies, 2 methods of fermentation, and 271 analyzed articles. Thus, the created database allows users to sort and systematize the necessary data on probiotics, both known and created by experts, and about various substances that can serve as prebiotics. The advantages and key point of the ODRAP database is the information concerning prebiotic activities and various methods of their assessment.