Title:Prebiotics: Categories, Applications, and Insights on the Potential of Herbal Sources as Prebiotics
Volume: 2
Author(s): Prateeksha Bhagwat, Hemant Soni*, Smriti tandon, Gagandeep Singh, Sanjeev Kumar Lale, Vijay Kumar, Cheemalapati Venkata Narasimhaji, Shiddamallayya Mathapati, Narayanam Srikanth and Rabinarayan Acharya
Affiliation:
- Section of Microbiology, Central Ayurveda Research Institute – Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Keywords:
Prebiotics, probiotics, medicinal plants, gut-microbiome, epigenetics, polyphenols.
Abstract: The definition and comprehension of prebiotics have undergone a substantial transformation
over the years, culminating in a consensus in 2016 among an expert panel from the International
Scientist Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP). This revision suggests that prebiotics
are substances that promote the growth of probiotics, thereby benefitting the health of the host.
These substances are no longer restricted to dietary carbohydrates and have expanded to include
bioactive compounds such as polyphenols. The objective of this review is to offer a thorough examination
of carbohydrate-based prebiotics (e.g., FOS, GOS, Inulin), their natural modulation, herbal
interventions, microbial-based substances, and their influence on gut health. Additionally, it will
investigate their association with the Indian traditional medicinal system. A review was conducted
to identify and analyze studies related to prebiotics, including their categories, commercial availability,
and applications. The investigation was expanded to encompass the interactions between the
intestinal microbiome, diet, epigenetics, and the mechanism of action of prebiotics. The relationship
between prebiotics and the Indian traditional medicinal system, emergent dietary inventions, and
microbial products such as synbiotics, postbiotics, and para-probiotics that have demonstrated potential
in gut health management with minimal side effects were all given special attention. The
review emphasizes novel discoveries, including the integration of a variety of dietary interventions
and microbial products into digestive health management, as well as the role of bioactive compounds
(e.g., polyphenols) as potential prebiotics. Additionally, the review emphasizes the potential
synergistic benefits and compatibility of integrating contemporary prebiotic research with practices
from the Ayurvedic medicinal system. The increased understanding of prebiotics, which extends
beyond dietary carbohydrates to encompass a variety of bioactive compounds, creates new opportunities
for research and implementation in the management of integrative gut health. This review has
identified herbal interventions and microbial products as promising frontiers for future research. The
integration of these discoveries into therapeutic interventions and consumer products has the potential
to significantly increase health outcomes with minimal side effects, thereby representing a significant
advancement in the field of gut health research.
