| Abstract |
This study aimed to evaluate the functional and prebiotic properties of the edible portions
of certain tropical fruits in Thailand, passion fruit and santol. The proximate composition
of passion fruit and santol were analysed which total carbohydrate was the major
component in both samples. Total dietary fibre of passion fruit and santol was 44.81 and
26.82% (w/w), respectively, with the majority of insoluble dietary fibre. Soluble dietary
fibre of both fruits was extracted by hot water and water-extractable polysaccharide was
yielded at 16.47% and 25.24% (w/w) for passion fruit and santol, respectively. The
functional properties of fruit fibre were informed, with the satisfactory oil holding
capacity of santol polysaccharide. The effect of both fruit polysaccharides on proliferation
number at 24 hrs was not different from inulin. Prebiotic activity score of fruit
polysaccharide was calculated from the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus and
Bifidobacterium longum compared with the growth of the enteric pathogen, Escherichia
coli corresponding to -0.25 and -0.23 for passion fruit and 0.10 and -0.01 for santol,
respectively. In conclusion, both passion fruit and santol polysaccharide showed a distinct
effect on the supportive growth of probiotic bacteria which may be potential candidate
ingredient incorporated in probiotic food. From this evidence, the development of fruitbased synbiotics from passion fruit and santol migh be affordable.
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