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Enzyme Treated Sapota Seed Dietary Fibre Is a Novel Prebiotic Feed Additive: In Vitro Studies
Balaji Arumugam1, Shweta Deotale1, Ipsita Chakravarty1
1SWAHA Center, Department of Chemical Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry
|November 3, 2025
Summary
Enzyme-treated sapota seed powder (eSSP) is a sustainable, cost-effective prebiotic for poultry feed. It enhances gut health by boosting beneficial bacteria and producing short-chain fatty acids, reducing agro-industrial waste.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science and Technology
- Animal Nutrition and Feed Science
- Biochemistry and Food Chemistry
Background:
- Agro-industrial fruit by-products offer a sustainable avenue for animal nutrition and waste reduction.
- Manilkara zapota (sapota) seeds, an underutilized by-product, possess potential functional properties for animal feed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physicochemical properties, dietary fiber, and prebiotic potential of enzyme-treated sapota seed powder (eSSP).
- To evaluate eSSP as a functional ingredient for poultry feed, focusing on gut health and sustainability.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-treated sapota seed powder (eSSP) was prepared and characterized for its physicochemical attributes and dietary fiber composition.
- Fermentable oligosaccharides (FOS) including galacto-, manno-, fructo-, and xylo-oligosaccharides were quantified after enzymatic hydrolysis.
- In vitro fermentation assays with Lactobacillus casei and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production analysis were conducted to assess prebiotic and stimbiotic effects.
Main Results:
- eSSP exhibited high crude fiber (23.94%) and a significant proportion of fermentable oligosaccharides, notably xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS, ~10%).
- Enzymatic hydrolysis optimized at 6 hours yielded peak oligosaccharide concentrations, enhancing volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, particularly butyrate.
- eSSP supported probiotic growth (Lactobacillus casei) and increased short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, demonstrating potent prebiotic and antioxidant properties.
Conclusions:
- Enzyme-treated sapota seed powder (eSSP) is a valuable, natural prebiotic and stimbiotic agent for animal feed.
- eSSP effectively promotes gut health by enhancing beneficial microbial activity and SCFA production, particularly butyrate.
- The valorization of sapota seed by-products through enzymatic treatment offers a sustainable solution for animal nutrition and waste management.
Keywords:
FOSGOSMOSManilkara zapotaPrebioticSCFAXOSdietary fiberenzyme treated sapota seedoligosaccharidespoultry feedstimbioticMore Related Videos
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