Rat Microbiota-derived Microbial Biotransformation of Ellagitannin-Rich Fruit Waste into Urolithins: Analytical Method Development and Microbial Functional Insights

This thesis explores how local fruit waste and gut bacteria work together to produce urolithins, beneficial compounds linked to health. Rambutan rind was identified as a rich source of ellagic acid, the starting material for urolithin formation. A precise lab method was developed to measure these compounds, and fermentation experiments showed that gut microbes can convert rambutan extract into urolithins over time. DNA sequencing revealed that several bacteria, not just one species, contribute to this process. Altogether, the work shows how fruit by-products and microbial communities can be used to develop more reliable, targeted, and sustainable postbiotic products.