Extraction and characterization of fructans from non-differentiated garlic (Allium sativum L.) and evaluation of its prebiotic effect

摘要

Climatic environmental factors affect garlic plant (Allium sativum L.) development causing non-differentiated bulbs which have no commercial value and represent up to 50% of crop losses. Insufficient cool hours (<550 h at<5°C) modify fructan profilecausing non-differentiated bulbs. These bulbs with no commercial value could be an important source of prebiotic fructans. The objective of the present study was to characterize fructans contained in non-differentiated bulbs (FNDB), differentiated garlic(FDG), white onion (FWO) and commercial inulin (CI). Also, functional properties and its prebiotic effects were analyzed. Concentration of fructans, degree of polymerization and water absorption index were higher (P>0.05) in FNDB (82.3%, 8.0 and 2.4 g H20 g1; respectively) compared to FWO (22.3%, 2.0 and 1.3 g H20 g1; respectively), but lower (P>0.05) than levels found in FDG (96.7%, 13.0 and 3.1 g H20 g1; respectively) and CI (97.2%, 23, 3.1 g H20 g-i; respectively). Rats fed diets supplemented with FNDB, CI and FDG had lower body weight gain (136.7,138.9 and 146.7 g; respectively) compared to control diet and the FWO (190.0 and 162.22 g; respectively). Similarly, diets supplemented with FNDB, CI and FDG reduced glucose levels (66.2, 59.9 and 63.4 mgdL1, respectively) and serum triglycerides (60.3, 52.4 and 62.6 mg dL1, respectively) compared to control (77.3 and 128.8 mg dL1, respectively) and FWO rats (72.39 and 74.16 mg dL-1, respectively). Importantly, rats feed with FNDB had higher levels of colonic Lachnospiraceae compared to FDG, CI, FWO and control diets. Taken together, these results suggest that FNDB have potential to be used as a prebiotic product to improve intestinal health.