Abstract

Prebiotic effectiveness of �������¢-fructan extracted from salsify on growth of B.bifidum and E.coli

Author(s): Ladan Nourbakhsh, Ali Mohamadi Sani, Elahe Mansoori, Elnaz Milani

Prebiotics that are specifically bifidogenic are the well studied â (2-1) fructans comprising of inulin, oligofructose and fructooligosaccharides. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prebiotic effectiveness of short chain â-fructans extracted from Salsify root (SCSF) in comparison to commercial inulin (HP-inulin). Effect of SCSF in concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%(w/v) on growth and activity of Bifidobacterium bifidum and E.coli was evaluated during 48 hours incubation period. The results indicated that utilization of â (2Â’!1) fructans by B.bifidum and E.coli depended on the DP of fructo-oligomeric chains and these bacteria significantly utilized SCSF with short chain (lower DP) better than HPinulin with higher DP (P < 0.05). Another finding was that in the case of both bacteria growth, no statistical differences were observed between mediumcontaining 2%and 3%(w/v) HP-inulin andmediumwithout HPinulin (P > 0.05). So it can be concluded that HP-inulin at concentrations 2% and 3% (w/v) was not fermented by these bacteria, whereas supplementation with 0.5% and 1% (w/v) HP-inulin was found to be effective on bacteria growth (P < 0.05).We also found that the effects of SCSF (2%w/v) on B.bifidum were significantly higher than that for E.coli (P < 0.05).