Structural and prebiotic activity analysis of the polysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus helveticus SNA12

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) isolated from Lactobacillus helveticus SNA12 were purified, and one fraction (SNA12-EPS) was obtained. The structure of SNA12-EPS was proposed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance. Results showed that SNA12-EPS was rich in galactose and glucose with the molar ratios of 2.1:1.0, and SNA12-EPS possessed the repeat units of →3)-β-D-Glcp-(1→3)-β-D-Glcp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→ with an average molecular weight of 3.81 × 105 Da. The scanning electron microscope results showed that SNA12-EPS had a tight structure with a smooth and uneven surface. Furthermore, the prebiotic potential of SNA12-EPS was performed using in vitro simulated digestion with human faecal fermentation. SNA12-EPS was not digested by digestive juice, and it could markedly regulate the gut microbiota composition by increasing the relative abundances of Parabacteroides and Blautia and decreasing the abundance of pathogenic bacteria of Fusobacterium. Additionally, SNA12-EPS improved the ability of gut microbiota to produce short-chain fatty acids.