title: In vitro investigation into the potential prebiotic activity of honey oligosaccharides.
abstract: The effect of honey oligosaccharides on the growth of fecal bacteria was studied using an in vitro fermentation system. Prior to treatment, glucose and fructose (31.73 and 21.41 g/100 g of product, respectively) present in honey, which would be digested in the upper gut, were removed to avoid any influence on bacterial populations in the fermentations. Nanofiltration, yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) treatment, and adsorption onto activated charcoal were used to remove monosaccharides. Prebiotic (microbial fermentation) activities of the three honey oligosaccharide fractions and the honey sample were studied and compared with fructooligosaccharide (FOS), using 1% (w/v) fecal bacteria in an in vitro fermentation system (10 mg of carbohydrate, 1.0 mL of basal medium). A prebiotic index (PI) was calculated for each carbohydrate source. Honey oligosaccharides seem to present potential prebiotic activity (PI values between 3.38 and 4.24), increasing the populations of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, although not to the levels of FOS (PI of 6.89).
authors.affiliation: School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, P.O. Box 226, Reading RG6 6AP, Berkshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: María Luz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Polemis
authors.forename: Valle
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Corzo
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drakoularakou
authors.forename: Glenn R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rastall
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005285:Fermentation; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009844:Oligosaccharides; C116580:fructooligosaccharide