Isomaltooligosaccharides from Leuconostoc as Neutraceuticals

Abstract

Isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOs) produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides ATCC 13146 fermentation with a sucrose:maltose ratio of 2:1 have been discovered to be effective prebiotics in mixed cultures of microbial populations, including cultures from chicken ceca. Surprisingly in mixed microbial cultures this IMO composition proved as effective as FOS. Thus, these IMOs can be used as effective prebiotics for both birds and mammals. Moreover, the IMOs were discovered to be effective non-competitive inhibitors of α-glucosidase. These IMOs also will be useful, as an α-glucosidase inhibitor, in a therapeutic application for several diseases, including obesity, diabetes mellitus, pre-diabetes, gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, caries, cancer, viral disease such as hepatitis B and C, HIV, and AIDS. A diet with 5-20% IMOs was also shown to reduce the abdominal fat tissue in mammals.

1 . A method to increase the population number of the beneficial bacteria relative to the population number of the pathogenic bacteria in an animal's intestine, said method comprising orally administering to the animal an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more maltsoyl-isomaltooligosaccharides with only α-1,4 and α-1,6 linkages and with a degree of polymerization less than or equal to 7, such that the number of beneficial intestinal bacteria increase substantially or that the number of pathogenic bacteria decrease substantially.  
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , additionally comprising the step of producing the composition by fermentation of sucrose in the presence of maltose, in a sucrose:maltose ratio of about 2:1, by  Leuconostoc mesenteroides  ATCC 13146.  
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said animal is a bird.  
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said animal is a mammal.  
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said animal is a human.  
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the number of pathogenic bacteria substantially decrease.  
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 6 , wherein said pathogenic bacteria is one or more selected from the group consisting of  Salmonella, Escherichia,  and  Campylobacter.    
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the number of beneficial bacteria substantially increase.  
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 8 , wherein said beneficial bacteria is one or more selected from the group consisting of  Lactobacillus  and  Bifidobacteria.    
     
     
         10 - 17 . (canceled)