SummaryThis is the first report of the evaluation of suitability for consumption of dragon fruit oligosaccharide (DFO) and its efficacy on gut microbiota modulation and in boosting the gut immune response in rats. The DFO produced significantly increased faecal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli but decreased bacteroides and clostridia. The DFO also showed immune‐response boosting properties by significantly increasing the plasma immunoglobulin A and G concentrations. In addition, it was confirmed by blood chemistry analysis and histology of the colon of the rats that DFO is suitable for the consumption. These results suggest that DFO is a potentially novel source of prebiotic ingredients with probiotic‐stimulation and immune boosting properties.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.