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Assessment of the prebiotic potential of seed coats from green gram (Vigna radiata) and black gram (Vigna mungo)
Abstract
Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients which beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of intestinal bacteria. In the present work, an attempt is made to show the in-vitro prebiotic ability of husks of the pulses, Green Gram (Vigna radiata) and Black Gram (Vigna mungo), using the known standard probiotic strains: Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 and Pediococcus acidilactici ATCC 8042. The husks are found to be resistant to in-vitro gastrointestinal digestion, and thus contain non-digestible constituents, and support the growth of beneficial microorganisms commonly present in the gastrointestinal tract. Pediococcus sp. showed growth up to 80% relative to inulin for the husks. The study also demonstrates the antioxidant activity of husks that can be an additional health benefit. Thus, the husks could be considered as potential prebiotic candidates. This work is the foremost of its kind to demonstrate the prebiotic activities of Green Gram and Black Gram husks.
... Some of these wastes include the leaves, spoiled fruits, pulp, unused peels, fibrous materials, and inedible parts of fruits, which comprise the stones, husks, kernels, and, most importantly, the seeds. Swaroopa et al. [18] reported that asparagus, chicory, garlic, onions, honey, wheat, soybeans, peas, beans, bananas, artichokes, tomatoes, and other plant materials are naturally occurring food items that are rich in prebiotics. These naturally occurring foods are also seed-producing. ...
... Shahidi [19] and Arulnathan et al. [20] reported that foods such as whole grains and pulses are associated with health benefits. The processing of pulses involves milling, sieving, and debranning, which removes the main functional components [18]. These separated components of grains or pulses have a high oligosaccharide content and can be considered as potential prebiotics. ...
... Prebiotic compounds such as xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides (AXOS) are extracted from agro-industrial by-products, including wheat bran, rice bran, rice husk, barley byproducts, and finger millet seed coat [21][22][23]. The separated part of the pulses is called the husk, seed coat, or covering [18]. Since there is a reduced amount of prebiotics present in food items that are consumed in the modern diet nowadays, it becomes imperative to produce more prebiotics for consumption. ...
Prebiotics are a group of biological nutrients that are capable of being degraded by microflora in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), primarily Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria. When prebiotics are ingested, either as a food additive or as a supplement, the colonic microflora degrade them, producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which are simultaneously released in the colon and absorbed into the blood circulatory system. The two major groups of prebiotics that have been extensively studied in relation to human health are fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS). The candidature of a compound to be regarded as a prebiotic is a function of how much of dietary fiber it contains. The seeds of fruits such as date palms have been reported to contain dietary fiber. An increasing awareness of the consumption of fruits and seeds as part of the daily diet, as well as poor storage systems for seeds, have generated an enormous amount of seed waste, which is traditionally discarded in landfills or incinerated. This cultural practice is hazardous to the environment because seed waste is rich in organic compounds that can produce hazardous gases. Therefore, this review discusses the potential use of seed wastes in prebiotic production, consequently reducing the environmental hazards posed by these wastes.
... Due to the fewer prebiotics present in consumed food items nowadays, researchers are looking for new ways to make more and more prebiotics from food by-products for consumption (Andrade et al. 2020). PSCs are rich in non-digestible food ingredients, and there is already substantial evidence to support their potential prebiotic function (Swaroopa et al. 2022;Xie et al. 2022). ...
... In a recent study, the in-vitro prebiotic potential of MSC was assessed (Swaroopa et al. 2022). The MSC was able to be resistant to in-vitro gastrointestinal digestion and promoted the bloom of beneficial microorganisms (Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 and Pediococcus acidilactici ATCC 8042) commonly present in the gastrointestinal tract. ...
Pulses, as a sustainable source of nutrients, are an important choice for human diets, but vast quantities of seed coats generated in pulses processing are usually discarded or used as low-value ruminant feed. It has been demonstrated that pulses seed coats are excellent sources of dietary nutrients and phytochemicals with potential health benefits. With growing interest in the sustainable use of resources and the circular economy, utilization of pulses seed coats to recover these valuable components is a core objective for their valorization and an important step toward agricultural sustainability. This review comprehensively provides a comprehensive insight on the nutritional and phytochemical profiles presented in pulses seed coats and their health benefits obtained from the findings of in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, in the food industry, pulses seed coats can be acted as potential food ingredients with nutritional, antioxidant and antimicrobial characteristics or as the matrix or active components of films for food packaging and edible coatings. A better understanding of pulses seed coats may provide a reference for increasing the overall added value and realizing the pulses' sustainable diets.
Background and objectives: Probiotic strains can be utilized as bio-preservatives and functional food supplements. In the present study, eight lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were screened for probiotic properties and antioxidant and anticancer potential. The selected LAB strains displayed antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens. Materials and Methods: The in vitro probiotic characteristics of these eight strains demonstrated superior acid and bile tolerance, simulated gastric juice (SGJ) tolerance, and an in vitro ability to adhere to Caco-2 cells. The antioxidant effects of intracellular and cell-free extracts of LAB strains were assessed by several antioxidant assays, including resistance to hydrogen peroxide, DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, and hydroxyl radical scavenging (HRS). Results: Showed that the bacterial lysate and cell-free supernatant (CFS) of S. thermophilus BLM 58, L. lactis subsp. lactis DSM 20481, P. acidilactici ATCC 8042, and L. Brevis NRRL B-4527 possessed excellent antioxidant capacities. Conclusion: The current study demonstrated for the first time the high capacity of S. thermophilus BLM 58 to have anticancer effects against cancer cells from four types of cancerous cell lines. This may be a promising finding for future cancer treatments and in the prevention of cancer using natural probiotics.
Many Clostridium species are found as commensal members of the intestinal microbiota. However, imbalances of the microbiota may lead to certain infections caused by these microorganisms, mainly Clostridium butyricum, Clostridium difficile, and Clostridium perfringens. In many cases, infection recurrence can occur after antibiotics, indicating the need for novel therapeutic options that act on the pathogens and also restore the microbiota. Herein, the in vitro antimicrobial activity and probiotic potential of clinical and reference strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were investigated against Clostridium species. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the agar spot test and inhibition of gas production. Then, the probiotic potential of selected strains was assessed by analyzing their coaggregation ability, adhesive properties to host cells and mucin, tolerance to acidic pH and bile salts, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 was the most promising strain based on its inhibitory activity against Clostridium spp. Also, this strain met criteria to be considered a probiotic based on its coaggregation ability, adhesive properties, and tolerance to harsh pH and bile acid salt conditions. The results indicate that among the studied strains, L. plantarum ATCC 8014 presents probiotic potential for controlling infections induced by the studied Clostridium species and should be further evaluated in in vivo animal models.
Prebiotics are nondigestible food components that have an impact on gut microbiota composition and activity, which in turn results in the improvement of health conditions. Nowadays, the production of prebiotics from agro‐industrial by‐products is under investigation. In this regard, polysaccharides are usually found in these sources and their potential use as prebiotics has been studied recently since these compounds act as substrates for the human gut microbiota, and they have the potential to modulate its composition through many mechanisms. Additionally, the use of agricultural by‐products is advantageous because it is a cheap and abundantly available material. This review focuses on the recent scientific literature regarding the prebiotic properties of polysaccharides from agro‐industrial by‐products.
Practical applications
Currently, the maintenance of gut homeostasis is a target for the improvement of human health. This review can broaden the perspective on the utilization of agro‐industrial by‐products that can compete in the market with the commercial ones or act as a source for new food ingredients.
The aim of the study was to determine and analyse the content of essential nutrients, the amino acid profile, phytochemical compounds, and antioxidant activity in the seeds of selected species and varieties of Fabaceae plants. The highest total protein content was detected in the seeds of the yellow and Andean lupines. The lupine seeds were characterised by a high (P < 0.05) level of crude fibre, NDF, and CEL. The highest proportion of EAAI (77%) was noted in the protein of chickpea, broad bean, grasspea, and pea. Among the Fabaceae plants analysed, chickpea seeds exhibited the highest (P < 0.05) levels of total phenols and polyphenols. The greatest (P < 0.05) antioxidant activity (DPPH) was noted for the lentil and yellow lupine seeds. Compared to the other legume representatives, the importance of lupine is increasing, as the chemical composition of its seeds makes the plant an important nutraceutical component.
The concept of prebiotics, probiotics, and symbiotics and their use in different situations of daily clinical practice related to clinical nutrition is reviewed, as well as their role in the treatment/prevention of diarrhea (acute, induced by antibiotics, secondary to radiotherapy), inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and pouchitis), in colonic health (constipation, irritable bowel), in liver disease (steatosis and minimum encephalopathy), and in intensive care, surgical, and liver transplantation. While their effectiveness for preventing antibiotic-induced diarrhea and pouchitis in ulcerative colitis appears to be shown, additional studies are needed to establish recommendations in most clinical settings. The risk of infection associated to use of probiotics is relatively low; however, there are selected groups of patients in whom they should be used with caution (as jejunum infusion).
The concept of prebiotics, probiotics, and symbiotics and their use in different situations of daily clinical practice related to clinical nutrition is reviewed, as well as their role in the treatment/prevention of diarrhea (acute, induced by antibiotics, secondary to radiotherapy), inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and pouchitis), in colonic health (constipation, irritable bowel), in liver disease (steatosis and minimum encephalopathy), and in intensive care, surgical, and liver transplantation. While their effectiveness for preventing antibiotic-induced diarrhea and pouchitis in ulcerative colitis appears to be shown, additional studies are needed to establish recommendations in most clinical settings. The risk of infection associated to use of probiotics is relatively low; however, there are selected groups of patients in whom they should be used with caution (as jejunum infusion).
Copyright © 2016 SEEN. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.
Purple sweet potato starch is a potential resource for resistant starch production. The effects of heat-moisture treatment (HMT) and enzyme debranching combined heat-moisture treatment (EHMT) on the morphological, crystallinity and thermal properties of PSP starches were investigated. The results indicated that, after HMT or EHMT treatments, native starch granules with smooth surface was destroyed to form a more compact, irregular and sheet-like structure. The crystalline pattern was transformed from C-type to B-type with decreasing relative crystallinity. Due to stronger crystallites formed in modified starches, the swelling power and solubility of HMT and EHMT starch were decreased, while the transition temperatures and gelatinization enthalpy were significantly increased. In addition, HMT and EHMT exhibited greater effects on the proliferation of bifidobacteria compared with either glucose or high amylose maize starch.
Yacon [Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. and Endl.) H. Robinson; Asteraceae] roots have been shown to be a source of prebiotic compounds. However, there are no known studies concerning processed yacon roots. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential prebiotic activity of yacon tuber flour. For this purpose, an aqueous extract was tested for selection of yacon incorporation and sterilization method and selection of the most favourable concentration to be tested for prebiotic activity. Once these conditions were identified, the potential prebiotic activity of the yacon extract was evaluated by determination of viable cell numbers and metabolic activity against four probiotic strains, namely, Enterococcus faecium 32, Bifidobacterium animalis Bo, Lactobacillus acidophilus Ki and Lactobacillus casei L26). Results showed that the best incorporation and sterilization method was to autoclave the supernatant, resultant from the yacon tuber flour suspension, at 121 °C for 20 min and add it to sterilized basal medium. For the confirmation of potential prebiotic activity, de Man-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) medium without a conventional carbon source (negative control), with 2% (w/v) glucose per se (positive control) and associated with 1% (w/v) yacon tuber flour were chosen. Yacon tuber flour revealed a potential prebiotic activity upon the growth of the probiotic strains tested, probably due to its fructooligosaccharides (FOS) content.
Prebiotics, typically the non-digestible carbohydrates, render physiological benefits to improve gut health. Present study was planned to screen 29 indigenous plant materials for their prebiotic potential. Standard fructooligosaccharide (FOS) was used as the positive control. Growth response of 9 lactic, 2 streptococci and 2 marketed probiotic consortia A & B (Probiotic acidophilus, Nutrition Now, USA and Total Probiotics, Nutri-West, USA) on plant materials was studied. Consortium A, L. casei and S. thermophilus, S. lactis, L. plantarum, L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus showed growth above 60% relative to FOS for all experimental materials. Bael, papaya, pomegranate, ber, tamarind, fig, guava, grapes, gum, apple, spinach and okra were identified first time for promising in vitro prebiotic potential with more than 60% growth of probiotics relative to FOS. Three formulations F1, F2 and F3 were confirmed as most promising prebiotic formulations through batch fermentation using human fecal slurry inoculum, with increased butyrate levels and increased growth of probiotics.
Prebiotics are short chain carbohydrates that are non-digestible by digestive enzymes in humans and selectively enhance the activity of some groups of beneficial bacteria. In the intestine, prebiotics are fermented by beneficial bacteria to produce short chain fatty acids. Prebiotics also render many other health benefits in the large intestine such as reduction of cancer risk and increase calcium and magnesium absorption. Prebiotics are found in several vegetables and fruits and are considered functional food components which present significant technological advantages. Their addition improves sensory characteristics such as taste and texture, and enhances the stability of foams, emulsions and mouthfeel in a large range of food applications like dairy products and bread. This contribution reviews bioactives from food sources with prebiotic properties. Additionally, food application of bioactive prebiotics, stimulation of the viability of probiotics, health benefits, epidemiological studies, and safety concerns of prebiotics are also reviewed.
A good number of abstracts and research articles (in total 74) published, so far, for evaluating antioxidant activity of various samples of research interest were gone through where 407 methods were come across, which were repeated from 29 different methods. These were classified as in vitro and in vivo methods. And those are described and discussed below in this review article. In the later part of this review article, frequency of in vitro as well as in vivo methods is analyzed with a bar diagram. Solvents are important for extracting antioxidants from natural sources. Frequency of solvents used for extraction is also portrayed and the results are discussed in this article. As per this review there are 19 in vitro methods and 10 in vivo methods that are being used for the evaluation of antioxidant activity of the sample of interest. DPPH method was found to be used mostly for the in vitro antioxidant activity evaluation purpose while LPO was found as mostly used in vivo antioxidant assay. Ethanol was with the highest frequency as solvent for extraction purpose.
Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth of bifidogenic and lactic acid bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract. Typically, the prebiotics consist of dietary fibers and oligosaccharides. Prebiotics exert a plethora of health-promoting effects, owing to which multi million food and pharma industries have been established. Prebiotics are being implicated in starter culture formulation, gut health maintenance, colitis prevention, cancer inhibition, immunopotentiaton, cholesterol removal, reduction of cardiovascular disease, prevention of obesity and constipation, bacteriocin production, use in fishery, poultry, pig, cattle feed and pet food. Looking at the ever-increasing demand of prebiotics, in this review, recent trends in prebiotic production from new novel sources, from food industrial wastes, prebiotic supplementation in food, commercially available prebiotic agents, prebiotic production by various techniques and future perspectives has been discussed. The critical insight into this hot research area aims to stimulate further ponderance.
In November 2008, a group of scientists met at the 6th Meeting of the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) in London, Ontario, Canada, to discuss the functionality of prebiotics. As a result of this, it was concluded that the prebiotic field is currently dominated by gastrointestinal events. How-ever, in the future, it may be the case that other mixed microbial ecosystems may be modulated by a prebio-tic approach, such as the oral cavity, skin and the urogenital tract. Therefore, a decision was taken to build upon the current prebiotic status and define a niche for 'dietary prebiotics'. This review is co-authored by the working group of ISAPP scientists and sets the background for defining a dietary prebiotic as ''a selectively fermented ingredient that results in specific changes in the composition and/or activity of the gastrointestinal microbiota, thus conferring benefit(s) upon host health''.
This study presents prebiotic potential of 9 grape varieties [4 marketed ‘juice’ grapes (G1, G2, G3, and G9) and 5 hybrids
(G4, G5, G8, G10 and G12)] using 4 individual probiotics and a consortium. Marketed fructooligosaccharide (FOS) was used as
a standard prebiotic. G10 showed higher growth response to Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. delbrueckii and reduced
Escherichia coli counts with zone of inhibition against E. coli. Inhibititory activity of á amylase as IC50 was lowest for G1 and
G10. All grape varieties and hybrids showed prebiotic activity (21.2-72.5% of FOS) with G1 and G10 being promising types.
New eating habits, actual trends in production and consumption have a health, environmental and social impact. The European Union is fighting diseases characteristic of a modern age, such as obesity, osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, allergies and dental problems. Developed countries are also faced with problems relating to aging populations, high energy foods, and unbalanced diets. The potential of nutraceuticals/functional foods/food supplements in mitigating health problems, especially in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, is discussed. Certain members of gut microflora (e.g., probiotic/protective strains) play a role in the host health due to its involvement in nutritional, immunologic and physiological functions. The potential mechanisms by which nutraceuticals/functional foods/food supplements may alter a host's health are also highlighted in this paper. The establishment of novel functional cell models of the GI and analytical tools that allow tests in controlled experiments are highly desired for gut research.
Owing to their health benefits, probiotics and prebiotics are nowadays widely used in yogurts and fermented milks, which are leader products of functional foods worldwide. The world market for functional foods has grown rapidly in the last three decades, with an estimated size in 2003 of ca US$ 33 billion, while the European market estimation exceeded US$ 2 billion in the same year. However, the production of probiotics and prebiotics at industrial scale faces several challenges, including the search for economical and abundant raw materials for prebiotic production, the low-cost production of probiotics and the improvement of probiotic viability after storage or during the manufacturing process of the functional food. In this review, functional foods based on probiotics and prebiotics are introduced as a key biotechnological field with tremendous potential for innovation. A concise state of the art addressing the fundamentals and challenges for the development of new probiotic- and prebiotic-based foods is presented, the niches for future research being clearly identified and discussed.
Background
In recognition of their multiple benefits on environment, food security, and human health, pulses are attracting worldwide attention. The seed coat is a major by-product of pulse processing, and its only markets are as low value ruminant feed and very limited use in high fibre foods. Recently, accumulating studies have suggested that this underutilised by-product has greater potential as a novel natural “nutritious dietary fibre” which can be used as a functional food ingredient.
Scope and approach
This review discusses biochemical and physicochemical functionalities of seed coats of six globally important pulses: chickpea, field pea, faba/broad bean, lentil and mung bean with a special emphasis on the emerging food pulse lupin. Food process modification and recent human food applications of the seed coats are summarized. Bio-availability of the seed coat compounds, and phomopsins contaminated lupin seed coats as a typical example of safety issue are discussed.
Key findings and conclusions
High levels of dietary fibre, minerals and potential health-promoting phytochemicals in the seed coats indicate their great potential to be used as a natural “nutritious dietary fibre”. However, further in-depth studies are required to improve their desirable nutritional, physiological and techno-functional properties whilst minimizing any undesirable ones.
The present study deals with the enzymatic production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) from water-soluble xylan (WSX) extracted from finger millet CO9 seed coat and the evaluation of its prebiotic potential. The yield of XOS was 72%, when the WSX of the finger millet seed coat was treated with commercially available xylanase of Thermomyces lanuginosus. The XOS obtained when analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography–evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) indicated a degree of polymerization (DP) of 2 and Electro Spray Ionization Mass Spectra (ESI-MS) revealed xylobiose as the major sugar. The presence of β-glycosidic linkages of XOS was identified by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) studies. The XOS exhibited an antioxidant activity of 75% and prebiotic efficacy. Prebiotic activity in the presence of probiotic strains was strain specific and differences in the prebiotic activity score (PAS) between strains were evident. The cell-free supernatant of Lactobacillus plantarum grown on the XOS from finger millet seed coat showed strong antibacterial activities against four pathogenic microorganisms compared with commercial XOS. Finger millet seed coat represents an abundant and alternative source for the extraction of xylan and its use for prebiotic XOS production.
The prebiotic ability of several rice bran fractions obtained by debranning (RBD) using human microbiota was studied in anaerobic batch cultures with agitation and pH-controlled. Fraction C (3.8–5% w/w pearling) from RBD increased the number of bifidobacteria and lactobacteria compared with the positive control, raftilose P95. RBD fermentation induced changes in the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profile. In addition, Fraction C revealed the highest growth of positive lactobacteria than commercial control. The present work illustrates the prebiotic capacity of RBD to modulate human microbiota and highlights that fraction C could be an economical source for use in human food as well as an interesting alternative to valorise a by-product of cereal industry.
In this paper, the quality of bean, chickpea, fava beans, lentil and pea flours from Algeria has been evaluated. Maillard reaction (MR) indicators, modifications in the carbohydrate and protein fractions, antioxidant activity and α-amylase inhibitor of raw, toasted and stored samples were evaluated. Fava beans, beans and peas showed higher content of raffinose family oligosaccharides while chickpeas and lentils showed higher polyol content. Toasting and storage caused slightly change in pulse quality; MR showed slight losses of lysine but increased antioxidant activity. Moreover, inhibition of α-amylase was slightly augmented during processing; this could increase the undigested carbohydrates that reach the colon, modulating the glycemic response. These results point out the suitability of these flours for preparing high-quality foodstuffs intended for a wide spectrum of the population, including hyperglycemic and gluten intolerant individuals.
Lentil is an important staple food crop in many regions and is a good source of protein and various micronutrients. Lentil also contains raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFO), resistant starch (RS), and other prebiotic compounds essential for maintenance of healthy gastrointestinal microflora. However, there is a lack of information about concentrations of prebiotics in commercially available, cooked, and processed lentil market classes. This study assessed concentrations of RFO and RS in two commercially available lentil market classes (medium green and small red) and determined changes associated with dehulling, cooking, cooling, and reheating. Mean total RFO concentrations ranged from 5.5 to 6.1% in raw lentils. Total RFO concentration decreased from raw to reheated seeds in two of the four lentil products: whole red (6.1–4.9%) and whole green (5.5–4.3%). Mean RS concentrations in raw, cooked, cooled, and reheated lentil (3.0, 3.0, 5.1, and 5.1% (dry weight), respectively) clearly demonstrate cooling-induced synthesis of RS from gelatinized starch. These results highlight the impact and importance of processing techniques on lentil nutritional quality for both consumer and food industry use.KeywordsLentilPrebioticsRaffinose family oligosaccharidesResistant starchFood processingStarch qualityFood compositionFood analysisAntinutrients
Cereals and cereal components can be used as fermentation substrates for probiotic organisms imparting prebiotic effects. Consumer interest in healthy functional foods has resulted in the need for food products with versatile health-benefiting properties. The conventional choice for probiotic food applications has been dairy-based products, but whole grain-based probiotic functional foods have debuted in Japan and Europe. In the US, pro- and prebiotics are mainly marketed as dietary supplements, but are moving towards inclusion in the diet as mainstream foods. Cereal constituents, such as wheat bran-based ingredients fermented with probiotics, would enhance consumer health with the benefits of probiotics, bran fiber, and healthful bioactive components.
Recently, the focus of scientific investigations has moved from the primary role of food as the source of energy and body-forming substances to the more subtle action of biologically active food components on human health. There has been an explosion of consumer interest in the active role of food in the well-being and life prolongation, as well as in the prevention of initiation, promotion, and development of nontransmissible chronic diseases. As a result, a new term—functional food—was proposed. Among these foods, probiotics may exert positive effects on the composition of gut microbiota and overall health, and the market is increasing annually. An increased demand for nondairy probiotic products comes from vegetarianism, milk cholesterol content, and lactose intolerance. Therefore, the development of these products is a key research priority for food design and a challenge for both industry and science sectors. This article presents an overview of functional food development, emphasizing nondairy foods that contain probiotic bacteria strains.
The importance of functional foods, nutraceuticals and other natural health products has been well recognized in connection with health promotion, disease risk reduction and reduction in health care costs. Whole foods such as whole grains as well as skins and processing by-products of foods often serve as a concentrated source of components with health beneficial effects. In most cases, processing negatively affects the bioactive components of functional foods and nutraceuticals. Therefore, minimally processed products better serve the health conscious consumers.
Dietary fiber is a nutritional concept based not on physiological functions but on defined chemical and physical properties. Recent definitions of dietary fiber differentiate inherent plant cell wall-associated fiber from isolated or synthetic fiber. For the latter to be defined as fiber, beneficial physiological effects should be demonstrated, such as laxative effects, fermentability, attenuation of blood cholesterol levels, or postprandial glucose response. Grain fibers are a major natural source of dietary fiber worldwide, while inulin, a soluble indigestible fructose polymer isolated from chicory, and polydextrose, a synthetic indigestible glucose polymer, have more simple structures. Inulin and polydextrose show many of the same functionalities of grain fiber in the large intestine, in that they are fermentable, bifidogenic, and laxative. The reported effects on postprandial blood glucose and fasting cholesterol levels have been modest, but grain fibers also show variable effects. New biomarkers are needed to link the physiological functions of specific fibers with long-term health benefits.
This clinical report reviews the currently known health benefits of probiotic and prebiotic products, including those added to commercially available infant formula and other food products for use in children. Probiotics are supplements or foods that contain viable microorganisms that cause alterations of the microflora of the host. Use of probiotics has been shown to be modestly effective in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in (1) treating acute viral gastroenteritis in healthy children; and (2) preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in healthy children. There is some evidence that probiotics prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants (birth weight between 1000 and 1500 g), but more studies are needed. The results of RCTs in which probiotics were used to treat childhood Helicobacter pylori gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic ulcerative colitis, and infantile colic, as well as in preventing childhood atopy, although encouraging, are preliminary and require further confirmation. Probiotics have not been proven to be beneficial in treating or preventing human cancers or in treating children with Crohn disease. There are also safety concerns with the use of probiotics in infants and children who are immunocompromised, chronically debilitated, or seriously ill with indwelling medical devices.
Prebiotics are supplements or foods that contain a nondigestible food ingredient that selectively stimulates the favorable growth and/or activity of indigenous probiotic bacteria. Human milk contains substantial quantities of prebiotics. There is a paucity of RCTs examining prebiotics in children, although there may be some long-term benefit of prebiotics for the prevention of atopic eczema and common infections in healthy infants. Confirmatory well-designed clinical research studies are necessary.
Because the human gut microbiota can play a major role in host health, there is currently some interest in the manipulation of the composition of the gut flora towards a potentially more remedial community. Attempts have been made to increase bacterial groups such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus that are perceived as exerting health-promoting properties. Probiotics, defined as microbial food supplements that beneficially affect the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance, have been used to change the composition of colonic microbiota. However, such changes may be transient, and the implantation of exogenous bacteria therefore becomes limited. In contrast, prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacterial species already resident in the colon, and thus attempt to improve host health. Intake of prebiotics can significantly modulate the colonic microbiota by increasing the number of specific bacteria and thus changing the composition of the microbiota. Nondigestible oligosaccharides in general, and fructooligosaccharides in particular, are prebiotics. They have been shown to stimulate the growth of endogenous bifidobacteria, which, after a short feeding period, become predominant in human feces. Moreover, these prebiotics modulate lipid metabolism, most likely via fermentation products. By combining the rationale of pro- and prebiotics, the concept of synbiotics is proposed to characterize some colonic foods with interesting nutritional properties that make these compounds candidates for classification as health-enhancing functional food ingredients.
Cellulose sources in the eudrilid earthworm, eudrilus eugeniae
- A A Aladesida
- S O Owa
- G A Dedeke
- B A Osho
- O A Adewoyin
- AA Aladesida
Aladesida AA, Owa SO, Dedeke GA, Osho BA, Adewoyin OA
(2013) Cellulose sources in the eudrilid earthworm, eudrilus
eugeniae. J Chem, Biol Phys Sci 3:1829-1834
In vitro screening of indigenous plant materials for prebiotic potential
- S A Yadav
- S S Gite
- V B Lanjekar
- SA Yadav