In vitro assessment of dried chicory root fermentation by the fecal human microbiota

In this study, we aimed to understand the impact of the intact plant cell matrix in dried chicory root on its breakdown in the human gut to explain its reported beneficial effects on gut and metabolic health. For this purpose, we used batch in vitro fermentation model together with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to assess the colonic breakdown dried chicory root cubes and powder versus isolated inulin and a control (only inoculum). Fresh feces from a human donor were used for inoculation and samples were taken at baseline and after six, 24 and 48 hours. These samples were then used to follow changes in the microbial community and combined with fermentation outcome assessments (among which pH, gas and short-chain fatty acid production) to investigate differences in the fermentation kinetics.