Bioactive potential of unpurified hydrothermal xylooligosaccharides: Implications for prebiotic formulations from sugarcane bagasse

This study explored the bioactive potential of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) obtained from sugarcane bagasse through one-step hydrothermal process approach, applied here without the typical purification or further processing steps commonly required to produce XOS for use as prebiotic. We investigated various processing conditions to optimize the yield and biofunctional properties of these unpurified, hydrothermally produced XOS-rich hemicellulose hydrolysates from sugarcane bagasse. The prebiotic efficacy of these unpurified XOS-rich hydrolysates was evaluated by their ability to support the metabolism of bifidobacteria in anaerobic fermentation. The results revealed that the chain length of XOS significantly influenced their effectiveness as a carbon source, with longer chains (beyond hexoses) being less efficient. Despite the presence of lignin and sugar degradation by-products, generally considered detrimental in such processes, they did not negatively affect bifidobacteria growth. In addition, variations in the degree of acetyl substitutions on the XOS mildly influenced the production of short-chain fatty acids. Importantly, unpurified XOS-rich hydrolysates produced under selected hydrothermal conditions demonstrated bioactive performance that was comparable to, or even superior to, commercial prebiotics. These findings confirm the practical viability of using unpurified, hydrothermally derived XOS-rich hydrolysates from sugarcane bagasse as prebiotics, emphasizing the innovative approach of eliminating purification and additional processing, thereby simplifying the production process while still maintaining high prebiotic efficacy. [Display omitted] •A wide variety of XOS-rich hydrolysates were generated through hydrothermal process.•Longer XOS chains were found to be less effective, affecting fermentation outcomes.•Bifidobacteria growth was unaffected by sugar degradation by-products.•Acetyl groups in XOS slightly influenced the production of fatty acids.•High-performance prebiotic XOS were hydrothermally produced without needing purification.