Potential prebiotic effects of softwood hemicelluloses

Microbiota display some metabolic capabilities that our mammalian genome lacks, including the ability to hydrolyze glycosidic bonds of otherwise indigestible dietary polysaccharides. Therefore, the application of particular glycans able to influence growth of some bacteria could form the basis of a non-invasive strategy by which we can modulate the composition and physiology of the microbiota [1]. This idea is behind the search for prebiotics defined as ‘a non-viable food component, ingredient or supplement that selectively modulates the microbiota of the digestive ecosystems, thus conferring benefits upon host well-being and health’ [2]. The goal of our study is identification of new prebiotics compounds derived from softwood hemicelluloses. We extracted high purity galactoglucomannans oligomers (GGMO) from industrial softwood chips. Fermentation of GGMOS by different bacterial species either beneficial or detrimental to healthy microbiota has been studied. The effect on growth of these bacteria, on amount of ATP and production of short chain fatty acids was assessed. Addition of GGMO to bacterial growth medium not only allowed the proliferation of a selected beneficial bacterial strain but also increased its life time.