In vitro prebiotic activities of exopolysaccharide from Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides XG5 and its effect on the gut microbiota of mice
Lei Pan, Ye Han, Zhijiang Zhou
Abstract
Exopolysaccharide from Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides XG5 (XG5 EPS) belong to linear dextran via α-1,6 glycosidic bond. The objective of this study was to investigate the prebiotic activities of XG5 EPS in vitro and its effect on the gut microbiota in mice. The results indicated that XG5 EPS could not be digested in human saliva, simulated gastric and small intestinal juices, while XG5 EPS was utilized by fecal microbiota. After 48 h of human fecal fermentation, the population of Bifidobacterium increased up to 1.27-fold and the contents of short-chain fatty acids increased up to 1.5-fold in the test group containing XG5 EPS. Meanwhile, XG5 EPS significantly increased the species richness of microbiota in the cecum of mice, especially increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes at the phylum level and Oscillospira at the genus level. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that XG5 EPS might have potential as a prebiotic.