Assessment of intermediate-and long-chains agave fructan fermentation on the growth of intestinal bacteria cultured in a gastrointestinal tract

Abstract

The prebiotic activities of agave fructans are well documented; however, little is known about the effects of agave fructan fractions in particular. The aim of this study was to evaluate two Agave tequilana var. cenizo fructan fractions corresponding to intermediate and high polymerization degree, on the growth of probiotic and pathogenic bacteria cultured in a human gastrointestinal tract simulator. The growth was analyzed by plate count using media selective for Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp. and Clostridium spp., in the case of Salmonella spp. a differential media was used. In addition, the metabolites generated via fructan metabolism were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography. These results suggest that these fructan fractions possess prebiotic activities and have beneficial effects via inhibition of intestinal pathogen growth. These effects particularly depend on the length of the selected fructan fraction administration period. This knowledge is important for enhancing the selective use of prebiotics in functional foods.