Backgrounds and Aims:

Huauzontle (Chenopodium berlandieri subsp. nuttalliae) is a pseudocereal native to Mexico with high nutritional value and rich in biologically important phytochemicals. The objective of this study was to evaluate its promoting effect on the growth of Lactiplantibacillus (Lpb.) plantarum Lp22 and Lp24, Lacticaseibacillus (Lcb.) casei Shirota and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb12, as part of its potentially prebiotic characterization. This effect is likely associated with its fiber and phenolic compound content.

Methods:

Dried huauzontle and control prebiotics (chicory fructooligosaccharides or agave inulin) were fermented using strains of Lpb. plantarum Lp22 and Lp24, Lcb. casei Shirota, E. coli ATCC 43892 (representative enteric bacteria) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb12 (representative colonic probiotic bacteria) in specific media and modifying the carbon source (0.3%, w/v). Fermentation was carried out under anaerobic conditions, for 8 h at 37 °C. At the end of fermentation, cell concentration, pH, total phenols, and soluble and insoluble fiber were determined. Prebiotic activity (PA) and prebiotic index (PI) were calculated.

Key results:

At the end of fermentation with Lp22 strain in MRS medium added with huauzontle, the insoluble fiber content decreased by 0.32% compared to the other strains (p<0.05), while the soluble fiber content increased by ca. 0.42% in fermentation with Lp22, Lp24, and Bb12 (p<0.05) strains. The phenolic compound content increased on average by 1.33-fold across all studied strains, while cell concentration increased by 1.60 logarithmic cycles, showing no significant difference (p>0.05) compared to the control prebiotics. Likewise, no differences (p>0.05) were observed in PA and PI scores between huauzontle and control prebiotics.

Conclusions:

These findings highlight the capacity of huauzontle to selectively promote the growth of certain bacterial strains, supporting its potential as prebiotic ingredient.

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