Co-digestion of xanthan gum/ <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> 75-coated cantaloupes with Natal plum ( <i>Carissa macrocarpa</i> ) fruits or beetroot ( <i>Beta vulgaris</i> L.) leaves on the bioaccessibility of anthocyanins and carotenoid components

Abstract Co-digestion of cantaloupe (C) melon fresh cuts (FC) coated with probiotics [Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 75/xanthan gum with Natal plum (NP)] or beetroot leaves (BL) was evaluated to determine their bioaccessibility of individual anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside) and carotenoids (lutein, trans-β-carotene and cis-β-carotene). Co-digestion of probiotic-coated C-melon-FC with NP increased the percentage (%) bioaccessibility of cyanidin-3-glucoside (11.18%) and cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside (8.89%) compared to single digestion of Natal plum. Bioaccessibility of lutein (18.2%), trans-β-carotene (36.92%) and cis-β-carotene (16.74%) increased when co-digestion of probiotic-coated C-melon-FC with BL compared to the single digestion of uncoated C-melon. Co-digestion of C-melon-FC-L75 with BL showed the highest antioxidant activity. L. plantarum had the highest LAB survival at the intestinal phase (6.01–6.26 Log CFU mL−1) during single and co-digestion showing probiotic potential. C-melon-FC-L75, Natal plum and beetroot leaves could be recommended as functional ingredients in meal preparation.