Potential prebiotic functions of a characterised Ehretia macrophylla Wall. fruit polysaccharide. (5th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Dan; Li, Lin; Tang, Xin; Chen, Juncheng; Yan, Wenbing; Wang, Lei; Zhang, Xia; Li, Bing; Yao, Hong
• Is Part Of: International journal of food science & technology. Volume 57:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 47
• Publication Date: 2021-04-05
• Subjects: Ehretia macrophylla Wall. fruit polysaccharides -- alpha diversity -- short‐chain fatty acid production; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1111/ijfs.15005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-5423

Abstract

Summary: Ehretia macrophylla Wall. fruit (EWMF) is a common functional food in Hunan Province, China. However, the constituents involving in maintaining human health remain unclear. In this study, a EWMF polysaccharide (EWMFP) was purified and characterised. An in vitro fermentation model simulating human colon micro‐ecosystem was used to investigate the potential gut health effects in terms of microbiota diversity maintenance, microbial compositional shifts, short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA) and SCFA precursors production. The results indicated that (i) EWMFP consists of 4 monosaccharides and the molecular weight is 12.45 KDa; (ii) EWMFP could better maintain microbiota diversity than inulin; (iii) compared with inulin, EWMFP could alter gut microbial compositions differently and produce higher concentration of butyrate at the end of fermentation; (iv) EWMFP and inulin might produce different compositions of SCFA in different pathways during fermentation. Our studies indicated that EWMFP could be a new potential prebiotic in regulating colonic health. Abstract : A polysaccharide was purified from Ehretia macrophylla Wall. fruit and characterised. An in vitro fermentation model simulating human colon micro‐ecosystem was used to investigate its potential prebiotic effects in terms of microbiota diversity maintenance, microbial compositional shifts, short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA) production.