Potential prebiotic effects of tamarind seed polysaccharide: comparative evaluation of native versus enzymatic hydrolysates on the restoration of intestinal microbiota in clindamycin-treated mice.

Enzymatic depolymerization of native tamarind seed polysaccharide selectively reduced molecular weight while preserving the galactoxyloglucan backbone.

• Molecular weight was reduced from 5.36 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹ (NTSP) to 4.05 × 10⁴ g mol⁻¹ (lowest hydrolysate ETSP2)
• Enzymatic depolymerization enhanced chain rigidity while preserving the galactoxyloglucan backbone
• Structural confirmation was performed by monosaccharide composition analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-performance size-exclusion chromatographic analyses
• Two enzymatic hydrolysates were generated: ETSP1 (moderate molecular weight) and ETSP2 (low molecular weight)

Both native and enzymatic hydrolysates of tamarind seed polysaccharide suppressed pathogenic bacterial genera in clindamycin-treated mice.

• NTSP, ETSP1, and ETSP2 all ameliorated clindamycin-induced intestinal dysbiosis in vivo
• Pathogenic genera suppressed included Escherichia-Shigella and Klebsiella
• All three polysaccharide forms enriched beneficial taxa in the gut microbiota
• The mouse model used clindamycin treatment to induce intestinal dysbiosis

Low molecular weight ETSP2 preferentially promoted the growth of Lactobacillus and Paludicola in clindamycin-treated mice.

• ETSP2 had a molecular weight of 4.05 × 10⁴ g mol⁻¹
• The promotion of Lactobacillus and Paludicola was distinct from the effects observed with moderate-Mw ETSP1 or native NTSP
• This differential effect highlights the role of molecular weight in determining which beneficial taxa are enriched

Moderate molecular weight ETSP1 enhanced Bacteroides, Flavonifractor, and unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae, and significantly increased short-chain fatty acid production.

• ETSP1 specifically enriched Bacteroides, Flavonifractor, and unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae
• ETSP1 significantly increased production of acetic acid and valeric acid
• Short-chain fatty acids were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
• ETSP1 showed greater SCFA-promoting effects compared to the other polysaccharide forms tested

Molecular weight plays a critical role in determining the prebiotic efficacy and structure-activity relationships of tamarind seed polysaccharide hydrolysates.

• Different molecular weight fractions (NTSP, ETSP1, ETSP2) produced distinct microbial enrichment profiles despite sharing the same galactoxyloglucan backbone
• Low-Mw ETSP2 favored Lactobacillus promotion while moderate-Mw ETSP1 favored Bacteroides and SCFA production
• These findings offer insights into rational design of structure-function optimized polysaccharide-based therapeutics to combat antibiotic-associated dysbiosis
• The differential effects demonstrate that enzymatic depolymerization can be used to tailor prebiotic outcomes