The effect of malanga tubers (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) versus potato tubers on mouse gut microbiota. mouse gut metagenome

In Cuba, the starchy tuber of malanga (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott, Araceae) is widely used as an easily digestible, medicinal food for children and adults with gastritis. We compared the physicochemical properties, bioavailability, and gut microbial effects of carbohydrates from boiled and freeze-dried malanga with potato tubers using the in vitro TNO Intestinal Model 1 (TIM-1) and C57BL/6J mice. Compared to potato, malanga carbohydrates were characterized by higher starch content, lower amylose:amylopectin ratio, and higher free sugar content, which contributed to lower apparent viscosity. In vitro and in vivo digestion of malanga yielded significantly higher bioaccessible and bioavailable sugars than potato, respectively. The gut bacterial communities of mice fed a high fat diet containing 20% malanga for 14 d exhibited significantly higher  diversity than those fed a 20% potato diet, as well as significant alterations in the abundances of bacterial groups associated with butyrate production. Collectively, these results provide scientific evidence to validate malanga’s traditional use to promote gut health.

在古巴，芋叶芋（malanga，学名Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott，天南星科Araceae）的淀粉块茎被广泛作为易消化的食疗食材，用于改善儿童及成人胃炎患者的病症。本研究采用体外TNO肠道模型1（TIM-1）与C57BL/6J小鼠，对比了蒸煮与冷冻干燥处理的芋叶芋块茎与马铃薯块茎中碳水化合物的理化性质、生物利用度及肠道菌群调控效应。与马铃薯相比，芋叶芋的碳水化合物具有更高的淀粉含量、更低的直链淀粉-支链淀粉比值，以及更高的游离糖含量，这使得其表观黏度更低。经体外消化与体内消化后，芋叶芋所释放的可及性糖与生物利用糖水平分别显著高于马铃薯。连续14天喂食添加20%芋叶芋的高脂饲料的小鼠，其肠道菌群的α多样性显著高于喂食添加20%马铃薯的高脂饲料的小鼠，同时与丁酸生成相关的菌群丰度也发生了显著改变。综上，本研究结果为芋叶芋用于促进肠道健康的传统应用提供了科学依据。