Effects of hemicellulose-derived saccharides on behavior of Lactobacilli under simulated gastrointestinal conditions

Four types of purified xylooligosaccharides (XOS) from several lignocellulosic materials, showing different structural features (including chain length, branching, and linkage types), obtained from different feedstocks (Eucalyptus globulus wood, rice husks, wheat bran or barley wastes), were assessed (using fructooligosaccharides as reference substrate) for their effects on the growth of six different probiotic Lactobacillus strains in basal MRS media and survival in different simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) conditions. The hydrophobicity of bacterial cells, which measures their potential for epithelial adhesion, was also evaluated. Improved growth of Lactobacillus strains was observed for media containing XOS as the single source of carbohydrate, confirming their role as prebiotics. These oligosaccharides also led to improvement in the resistance of the target Lactobacillus to the simulated GIT environment. The enhancement of the survival rates depended on the type of oligosaccharide. This is the first comparative study of the effects in lactobacilli involving four types of XOS obtained from different lignocellulosic materials. The obtained results show that these oligosaccharides manufactured from alternative sources could be interesting prebiotic substrates with different structures in comparison with the available commercially and with interesting potential towards the development of synbiotic products. •Four xylooligosaccharides (XOS) were assessed as substrates for six probiotic strains.•All of the XOS were able to support the growth of the probiotics assayed.•Differences among the various types of XOS affected the cellular growth.•XOS improved the resistance of the strains to simulated gastrointestinal conditions.•Best combination of probiotics and XOS allows development of new synbiotic preparations.