Molecules (Jun 2024)

Influence of Novel Microcapsulates of Bee Products on Gut Microbiota Modulation and Their Prebiotic and Pro-Adhesive Properties

  • Gabriela Kowalska,
  • Justyna Rosicka-Kaczmarek,
  • Karolina Miśkiewicz,
  • Adriana Nowak,
  • Ilona Motyl,
  • Joanna Oracz,
  • Anna Brzozowska,
  • Aleksandra Grzegorczyk,
  • Zuzanna Świniarska

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29122751
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 12
p. 2751

Abstract

Read online

With the aim to obtain controlled-release systems and to preserve the antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and prebiotic activity of the bioactive compounds, microencapsulation of both honeydew honey and royal jelly into biopolymeric microparticles based on rye bran heteropolysaccharides (HPS) was successfully performed. Honeydew honey and royal jelly microcapsules were prepared by spray-drying method and were characterized in terms of morphology and biological properties. Due to the resistance of the obtained encapsulates to the acidic pH in the stomach and digestive enzymes, the microcapsules showed prebiotic properties positively influencing both the growth, retardation of the dying phase, and the pro-adhesive properties of probiotic bacteria, i.e., Bifidobacterium spp. and lactic acid bacteria. Moreover, as a result of fermentation of the microcapsules of bee products in the lumen of the large intestine, an increased synthesis of short-chain fatty acids, i.e., butyric acid, was found on average by 39.2% in relation to the SCFA concentrations obtained as a result of fermentation of native bee products, thus opening new perspectives for the exploitation of honeydew honey and royal jelly loaded microcapsules for nutraceutical applications.

Keywords