title: Prebiotic potential of Agave angustifolia Haw fructans with different degrees of polymerization.
abstract: Inulin-type fructans are the most studied prebiotic compounds because of their broad range of health benefits. In particular, plants of the Agave genus are rich in fructans. Agave-derived fructans have a branched structure with both β-(2→1) and β-(2→6) linked fructosyl chains attached to the sucrose start unit with a degree of polymerization (DP) of up to 80 fructose units. The objective of this work was to assess the prebiotic potential of three Agave angustifolia Haw fructan fractions (AFF) with different degrees of polymerization. The three fructan fractions were extracted from the agave stem by lixiviation and then purified by ultrafiltration and ion exchange chromatography: AFF1, AFF2 and AFF3 with high (3-60 fructose units), medium (2-40) and low (2-22) DP, respectively. The fructan profile was determined with high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD), which confirmed a branched fructan structure. Structural elucidation was performed by Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy. The AFF spectrum shows characteristic fructan bands. The prebiotic effect of these fractions was assessed in vitro through fermentation by Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains. Four growth patterns were observed. Some bacteria did not grow with any of the AFF, while other strains grew with only AFF3. Some bacteria grew according to the molecular weight of the AFF and some grew indistinctly with the three fructan fractions.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desarrollo de Productos Bióticos, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, P.O. Box 24, Yautepec 62730, Morelos, Mexico. jrodolfovelazquez@gmail.com.
authors.forename: José Rodolfo
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Velázquez-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Sistemas Biológicos, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Delegación Coyoacán 04960, D.F., Mexico. gcrm4280@correo.xoc.uam.mx.
authors.forename: Rina M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: González-Cervantes
authors.affiliation: Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomas, Delegación Miguel Hidalgo 11340, D.F., Mexico. mineaurora@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Minerva Aurora
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hernández-Gallegos
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desarrollo de Productos Bióticos, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, P.O. Box 24, Yautepec 62730, Morelos, Mexico. rcamposm@ipn.mx.
authors.forename: Roberto Campos
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Mendiola
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desarrollo de Productos Bióticos, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, P.O. Box 24, Yautepec 62730, Morelos, Mexico. aaparici@ipn.mx.
authors.forename: Antonio R Jiménez
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Aparicio
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desarrollo de Productos Bióticos, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, P.O. Box 24, Yautepec 62730, Morelos, Mexico. mlarenas@ipn.mx.
authors.forename: Martha L Arenas
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ocampo
mesh_terms: D027882:Agave / Q000737:chemistry*; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D005285:Fermentation; D005630:Fructans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D058105:Polymerization; D056692:Prebiotics
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005630:Fructans; D010936:Plant Extracts; D056692:Prebiotics