Tracking the Gastrointestinal Fate and Prebiotic Effect of Sparassis crispa Polysaccharide: In Vitro Dynamic Digestion Models

Abstract Gastrointestinal digestion is indispensable for the utilization of bioactive macromolecules. Compared to static digestion models, dynamic digestion models more realistically simulate the physiological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, the in vitro dynamic digestion system and fecal fermentation were used to systematically evaluate the digestive and fermentative properties ofSparassis crispa polysaccharide (SCP). During gastric digestion, the molecular weight of SCP decreased and its apparent structure became coarse and loose, thus indicating partial digestion of SCP. A slight increase in the molecular weight of SCP was observed after intestinal digestion. During fermentation, the glucose molar ratio of SCP decreased and xylose was released, thereby suggesting SCP utilization by the gut microbiota. According to 16S rRNA sequencing, SCP increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, thereby promoting the production of short-chain fatty acids. Our results provide scientific evidence supporting SCP as a prebiotic with potential to promote gut health.