33G-27 |
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Y.-L. HUANG and C.-F. Chau. Dept. of Food Science, National Chung Hsing Univ., 250 Kuokuang Rd., Taichung, 40227, Taiwan The microflora of the intestinal tract play an important role in influencing the health of the host. It has been reported that dietary fiber could influence the intestinal microbial enzymes and bacterial metabolism. Our previous studies have found that passionfruit seed is rich in water-insoluble fiber-rich fraction (WIFRF) which possesses desirable physicochemical properties such as oil-holding and cation-exchange capacities for food applications. Therefore, this study is to evaluate the influence of WIFRF on intestinal function and environment. Our recent publication showed that WIFRF was a novel and potential fiber source, this study is to investigate the effect of WIFRF on the metabolic activity of intestinal microflora by determining the bacterial enzyme activities and ammonia contents in intestinal and fecal homogenates. After defatted with petroleum ether (1:4, w/v), seed meal was homogenized in cold distilled water (water to seed ratio at 10:1) to prepare WIFRF. Hamsters were fed AIN 93M diet prepared with and without the addition of WIFRF. Ammonia content and bacterial enzyme activities in intestine and feces were measured spectrophotometrically. Compared to the fiber-free diet, the WIFRF containing diet significantly (P<0.05) decreased the activities of fecal beta-glucosidase, beta-glucuronidase, urease, and ammonia in cecal contents and feces which could be used as indicators for the estimation of health-promoting potential and integrity of muscosal damage. Our results showed that WIFRF could reduce the concentration of toxic and genotoxic chemicals or carcinogenic enzymes produced by the bacteria colonized in the hindgut. The intake of WIFRF at 5% level in a diet was found to protect the intestinal tract by reducing some toxic components such as bacterial metabolites and ammonia produced along intestinal tract. It was concluded that feeding WIFRF could be beneficial to the functions and health of intestine.
Session 33G, Nutraceuticals & Functional Foods: Lipid and probiotic functional foods
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