Green banana resistant starch as a candidate prebiotic in poultry diets: Mechanisms, limitations, and prospects

Growing concerns over antimicrobial resistance and the presence of antibiotic residues in poultry products have led to widespread restrictions on the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP). This shift has intensified the search for effective alternatives to maintain poultry health and productivity. Probiotics have emerged as one such alternative; however, their efficacy when used alone remains inconsistent across production settings. To overcome these limitations, synbiotics, combinations of probiotics and prebiotics, have gained attention due to their potential to deliver more consistent outcomes. In synbiotic formulations, prebiotics selectively stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial gut microbes, thereby enhancing probiotic colonization and functionality. Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates that resist host enzymatic degradation and are fermented by commensal gut microbiota, leading to the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and improved gut health. In poultry, prebiotics contribute to enhanced nutrient utilization, immune modulation, improved performance, and overall bird welfare, while also promoting sustainable production. Identifying accessible, cost-effective, and functional prebiotic candidates is therefore essential. One such promising candidate is green banana resistant starch (GBRS), which warrants critical evaluation as a potential prebiotic for poultry. Despite its promising functional properties, the application of GBRS in poultry nutrition remains underexplored. Existing studies have predominantly focused on rodent and human models, with limited translational research in the avian species. This systematic review synthesizes current knowledge on the physicochemical characteristics of GBRS, elucidates its potential mechanisms of action as a gut function modulator, evaluates available in vivo evidence, and critically assesses its limitations and practical prospects as a prebiotic in poultry production systems.