Fructan mixtures of Agave salmiana and chicory exhibit in vitro anticancer potential in human colon cells and prebiotic activity

Anticancer potential and a prebiotic effect of fructan mixtures from Agave salmiana (branched) and chicory inulin (linear) were evaluated to different mass fractions 1/0, 0/1, 0.5/0.5, 0.75/0.25, 0.25/0.75, respectively, in three concentrations: 2, 3.5, and 5 mg/mL. The viability, proliferation, and apoptosis of human colon cell lines, CRL1831 (healthy), HT29 (cancerous grade 1-2), and SW480 (cancerous grade 3-4), were evaluated by absorbance assays. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis growth was determined by spectrophotometry at 600 nm. The lactic acid and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production was determined by the HPLC method. Fructan mixtures (inulin/agave, 0.25/0.75) showed a synergic effect on viability, proliferation, and decreased apoptosis in healthy colon cells (CRL1831) at 5 mg/mL. An increase (p < 0.05) of apoptosis in HT29 and SW480 was observed with inulin/agave (0/1) at 3.5 mg/mL and inulin/agave (0.5/0.5), respectively. The proliferation of L. acidophilus and B. longum subsp. infantis was better when the agave fructans were in a higher proportion than inulin. Lactic acid was the highest metabolite produced by L. acidophilus and acetic acid by B. longum subsp. infantis. Fructan mixtures induced SW480 and HT29 cells to apoptosis without toxic effects on healthy cells and improved bacteria proliferation and metabolite production.