Prebiotics – Types, their role in Improving Health and Therapeutic Applications
1*P. Praveen Reddy and 2S. Hari Priya
1Department of Microbiology 2Department of Biochemistry School of Allied Healthcare Sciences, Malla Reddy University, Maisammaguda, Dulapally, Hyderabad-500100 India *Corresponding author email: microppr@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The prebiotics are chemical ingredients associated with our normal diet and are resistant to the activityof oral and gastrointestinal digestive enzymes. They even resist the gastrointestinal absorption. The prebiotics specifically serve as nutrients to certain gut bacteria. These bacteria utilize the prebiotics and produce metabolites which maintain our gut health. The prebiotics increase the population of beneficial bacteria and control the growth of harmful bacteria. Much research is ongoing pertaining to prebiotics due to their significant therapeutic properties. Many studies had proved that prebiotics are effective in control of various diseases including some skin disorders, boosting up our immune system and overall maintenance of our health. Currently extensive research and experimental studies on humans and animals are being conducted to determine the activity of various prebiotics. In future, various prebiotic formulations may be available to maintain our health and for the treatment of diseases. In the present paper classification of different prebiotics, their mechanism of action, therapeutic applications based on clinical trials and experimental studies, dietary sources and future perspectives of prebiotics were extensively analysed and discussed.