TITLE:
In-Vitro Metabolite Colonic Production from Otili (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) as Influenced by Selected Gastrointestinal Microbes
AUTHORS:
O. A. Awoyinka, T. R. Omodara, F. C. Oladele, O. O. Aina, O. E. Ajayi
KEYWORDS:
Indigestible Fraction, Dietary Fibres, Fermentation, Short Chain Fatty Acids, Medium Chain Fatty Acid
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.9 No.11,
November
28,
2018
ABSTRACT: In human nutrition, dietary fibers are un-degradable
by mammalian enzymes, and are therefore potentially available for fermentation
by micro-organisms living in the gastrointestinal tract. It is thought that
these fermentable carbohydrates affect fermentation by stimulating the growth
or metabolism of specific bacterial species, which are potentially beneficial
for health. Hence in this study three gut associated microbes—Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactobacillus
acidophilus were made to ferment the non-digestible fraction of Otili—Sphenostylis stenocarpa, a well-established underutilized wild bean
with high economic importance. After 18 hours’ fermentation period short chain
fatty acids (SCFAs) and medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) were detected and
evaluated by GC-MS analysis. Metabolic products were relatively dependent on
the fermenter. This present study
affirmed butyric acid as the main SCFAs after 18 hours’ fermentation. The
clinical significance of thirteen other MCFAs detected and quantified was also
explored thus conferring a valuable prebiotic on Otili.