Title : Prebiotic properties and health benefits of bioactive natural polysaccharides
Abstract:
Natural polysaccharides (PS) from various sources have been recognized as promising nutraceutical and therapeutic ingredients because of their multiple bioactivities and health benefits such as immunomodulation, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, and amelioration of metabolic syndrome diseases. As most of the bioactive natural PS are highly resistant to digestive enzyme and gastric acid hydrolysis and to absorption in the small intestine in the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT), they are most probably metabolized by the gut bacteria in the large intestine. The fermentative metabolism of natural PS by the gut bacteria yields metabolites such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are beneficial and important to both the intestinal and systemic functions and may also modulate the gut microbiota beneficially to the host health. Many recent studies have demonstrated the prebiotic properties of natural PS and provided supporting evidence for an important role of the gut microbiota in medicating the various health benefits and therapeutic effects of bioactive natural PS. This lecture will cover the following contents:
- Bioactive natural PS: sources, molecular characteristics and health benefits.
- Gut microbiota and prebiotic properties of natural PS;
- Findings from our research studies: (1) prebiotic properties of PS from a medicinal fungus, Cs-HK1 EPS and konjac glucomannan (KGM); (2) anti-inflammatory effects of Cs-HK1 EPS.
Audience Take Away:
- To learn about the molecular properties, health benefits and potential applications of natural polysaccharides.
- To understand how the natural polysaccharides generate the health benefits in human.
- To identify the important areas for research and development on natural polysaccharides.
