Investigation of the Polysaccharides from Mesona Chinensis as Potential New Prebiotic Compounds

Objective: Mesona chinensis is an important medicinal and edible plant widely used in Vietnam, particularly for the preparation of jelly desserts due to its high polysaccharide content. Although previous studies have demonstrated the various health-promoting
effects of M. chinensis polysaccharides, detailed investigations on the chemical composition of polysaccharides extracted from Vietnamese M. chinensis remain limited. In this study, we aimed to extract and characterize the polysaccharides from M. chinensis
and evaluate their potential as prebiotics for gut microbiota.
Methods: Polysaccharides were extracted from Mesona chinensis using a hot water extraction method, and the resulting crude polysaccharides were subsequently analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine their monosaccharide composition.
Results: The results showed that the extraction yield was 0.161 g/g dry weight (DW). Monosaccharide composition analysis using HPLC revealed the presence of mannose (0.296 µg/ mg), ribose (0.168 µg/mg), glucose (0.757 µg/mg), galacturonic acid (0.237 µg/mg), xylose (1.08 µg/mg), galactose (0.353 µg/mg), and fucose (1.53 µg/mg). Notably, the high levels of fucose and xylose suggest a strong potential for prebiotic activity, as
these monosaccharides can selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial gut microbiota.
Conclusions: In conclusion, M. chinensis holds promise as a valuable ingredient in the development of novel functional foods, aligning with current trends in the food industry toward health oriented innovations.