Evaluation of xylooligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides on digestive enzymes hydrolysis and as a nutrient for different probiotics and Salmonella typhimurium

The concern about food quality and diseases prevention has increased the number of researches aimed at improving health by modulating the intestinal microbiota. Such modulation can be achieved by ingesting prebiotic ingredients and probiotics. In the present work, "in vitro" digestion of commercial fructooligosaccharides (FOs) and xylooligosaccharides (XOs) by gastrointestinal tract enzymes was performed, as well as "in vitro" growth of Biftdobacterium, Lactobacillus and Salmonella. The digestibility tests confirmed the resistance of commercial XOs and FOs to gastrointestinal enzymes and to the acidity of gastric juice. Growth experiments indicated the ability of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium Wens to ferment FOs. Lactobacillus brevis and Bifidobacterium breve showed preference for XOs while Bifidobacterium longum grew using both carbon sources and Bifidobacterium animalis did not grow in any of them. Regarding Salmonella typhimurium, in 4 h, no bacterial growth in the cultures with oligosaccharides was observed, suggesting the selectivity of these prebiotics by probiotic bacteria. These results show the different responses of prebiotics for each probiotic strain. A mixture of prebiotics that increase the efficiency of distinct probiotics is important and should be considered for food and feed applications.