Health benefits and functional properties of ciceritol, a novel prebiotic derived from chickpeas

The importance of synbiotic foods has grown due to the connection between gut bacteria and immunity. The human gut microbiota plays a crucial role in preventing and treating different metabolic disorders. Various polysaccharides are a rich source of nutrients and substrates that increase the gut microflora, acting as prebiotics that modulate it. The primary source of these prebiotics for human consumption is plants. Ciceritol, a trisaccharide with excellent prebiotic potential, has been found mainly in chickpeas. It is essential in the production of short-chain and proliferation of colonic microflora. Ciceritol significantly increases the number of probiotics, particularly the Lactobacillus group. This review focuses on the extraction, source, and characterization of Ciceritol, examining its behavior as a human microflora prebiotic. There is a critical examination of mechanisms behind its prebiotic activity, its role in regulating gut flora, and the resulting impact on human health. The article also indicates avenues of future research and the shortcomings of current research. • Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in preventing metabolic disorders. • Ciceritol, a trisaccharide from chickpeas, has excellent prebiotic potential. • Ciceritol increases probiotics, especially Lactobacillus, and colonic microflora.