Abstract 

In recent years, plant-derived polysaccharides have attracted increasing interest in biotechnology due to their high structural diversity and multifaceted biological activities, particularly their prebiotic potential. Prebiotics are natural carbohydrate compounds that are indigestible by host enzymes. They reach the colon where probiotic bacteria, selectively promoting the growth and activity of beneficial microorganisms in the gut microbiota, metabolize them. The aim of this work is to study the characteristics of polysaccharides extracted from different parts of plants of the genus Cassia/Senna in order to evaluate their prebiotic potential and applications. Physicochemical characterizations, growth tests, and in vitro fecal fermentation assays were performed on the extracts. Studies indicate that the seeds of several Cassia species contain galactomannans and other fermentable polysaccharides, which are conducive to prebiotic activity. Preliminary fermentation studies suggest that these biomolecules can serve as a metabolic substrate for the tested probiotic bacteria, indicating their ability to modulate microbial composition and interact with probiotics. Prebiotic fibers extracted from species of the genus Cassia represent promising functional ingredients for the food and nutraceutical industries. Their ability to regulate the gut microbiota and contribute to improved intestinal health makes them a key resource for the development of new health-focused products.

Keywords: Biotechnology, Cassia senna, Polysaccharides, Prebiotic activity, Gut microbiota, Intestinal health.