Arabinoxylans and cross-linked arabinoxylans: Fermentation and potential application as matrices for probiotic bacterial encapsulation

Authors: MENDEZ-ENCINAS, MAYRA - Center For Research In Food And Development (CIAD); CARVAJAL-MILLAN, ELIZABETH - Center For Research In Food And Development (CIAD); Simon, Stefanie; White, Andre; Chau, Hoa - Rose; Yadav, Madhav; Renye, John; Hotchkiss, Arland; RASCON-CHU, AGUSTIN - Center For Research In Food And Development (CIAD); ASTIAZARAN-GARCIA, HUMBERTO - Center For Research In Food And Development (CIAD); VALENCIA-RIVERA, DORA - Universidad De Sonora

Submitted to: Food Hydrocolloid for Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/25/2022
Publication Date: 9/7/2022
Citation: Mendez-Encinas, M.A., Carvajal-Millan, E., Simon, S., White, A.K., Chau, H.K., Yadav, M.P., Renye Jr, J.A., Hotchkiss, A.T., Rascon-Chu, A., Astiazaran-Garcia, H., Valencia-Rivera, D.E. 2022. Arabinoxylans and cross-linked arabinoxylans: Fermentation and potential application as matrices for probiotic bacterial encapsulation. Food Hydrocolloid for Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fhfh.2022.100085.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fhfh.2022.100085

Interpretive Summary: Dietary fiber consists of undigestible health-promoting carbohydrates, yet the structure-function relationships that impact gut health are not clearly understood and fiber-rich residues are currently used as low-value animal feed. We investigated the cereal grain carbohydrate structures that enhance the growth of human gut bacteria and promote health. Observations showed that larger size fibers supported the highest growth of health-beneficial gut bacteria and enzymatic reduction of fiber size reduced that activity. Storage of viable health beneficial bacteria in cross-linked fibers for a month was possible. This information will be useful to produce health-promoting dietary fiber that will realize more value for cereal crops.

Technical Abstract: Arabinoxylans (AX) and protease treated AX (AXP) were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis with endoxylanase (XYL) and arabinofuranosidase (ARA) to obtain hydrolyzed AX (HAX) and AXP (HAXP), whose ability to promote Bifidobacterium infantis and Bifidobacterium longum growth was investigated. Further, the effect of cross-linked AX on the growth of Bifidobacteria was also explored. Bifidobacteria showed the highest growth on AX and AXP, while HAX and HAXP did not have a significant impact on bacterial growth. The cross-linking of AX stimulated the growth of Bifidobacteria, possibly due to its gel-like structure which favored the bacteria-substrate (polysaccharide) interaction. AX and sodium alginate (SA) were used to prepare synbiotic matrices. The ability of AX-SA to encapsulate and protect probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Streptococcus thermophilus and B. longum) under storage conditions was investigated. Comparing AX-SA and SA matrices, AX synbiotic matrices presented the highest encapsulation efficiencies (55-77%) with the three strains. Significantly higher levels (~7 logs) of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG were recovered from AX and AX-SA synbiotic matrices after 28 days of storage under aerobic conditions at 4 °C compared to SA matrices (~4 logs). The results indicated that the incorporation of AX into synbiotic matrices played a significant role on the survival of encapsulated bacteria during storage, which could be attributed to the stable covalent cross-linked network formed during AX gelation and to the prebiotic properties of AX which stimulated bacterial growth. Synbiotic matrices based on AX could be promising materials to encapsulate and protect probiotic bacteria for targeted delivery to the colon.