초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Xylo-oligosaccharides and <I>xylo</I>-polysaccharides (XOS, XPS) produced by autohydrolysis of the fibre from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) were purified using gel filtration chromatography to separate the XOS and XPS from the crude autohydrolysis liquor. Six mixed fractions of refined XOS and XPS with average degree of polymerisation (avDP) of 4–64 were obtained. These were characterised in terms of their composition and size by HPLC, MALDI-ToF-MS (selected fractions) and carbohydrate gel electrophoresis (PACE). They were assessed in batch culture fermentations using faecal inocula to determine their ability to modulate the human faecal microbiota <I>in vitro</I> by measuring the bacterial growth, organic acid production and the XOS assimilation profile. The gut microbiota was able to utilise all the substrates and there was a link between the avDP with the fermentation properties. In general, XOS/XPS preparations of lower avDP promote better <I>Bifidobacterium</I> growth and organic acid production.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Composition of refined OPEFB <I>xylo</I>-polysaccharide (XPS) fractions was characterised. </LI> <LI> XPS average degree of polymerisation (avDP) influences the fermentation properties. </LI> <LI> XPS fractions (avDP 28, 44, 64) can be fermented by gut microflora. </LI> <LI> XOS fractions (avDP 4, 7, 14) promote bifidogenicity and SCFA production. </LI> </UL> </P>