Preparation of polysaccharides from Crepis tectorum Linn. and the regulation effects on intestinal microbiota

In this study, polysaccharides from Crepis tectorum Linn. (CTP) were extracted, and the optimized extraction factors were achieved via the response surface method (RSM). The optimal parameters to extract CTP were obtained and are as follows: the liquid to solid ratio was 26 mL/g, the extraction time was 100 min, and the extraction temperature was 94 C-circle. The maximum CTP yield was 24.45% under these extraction parameters. The fermentation model was prepared using human faeces to study the effects of CTP on human faecal microflora. During the fermentation process, human faecal microbiota could ferment and utilize CTP, and the carbohydrate consumption rate was 89.55 +/- 0.68%. The relative abundance of some salutary microorganisms (Prevotella and Bifidobacterium) was enhanced. The relative abundance of some pathogenic microorganisms was decreased, for example, Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia_Shigella. These results indicated that CTP had potential prebiotic activity.