51. Improvement in intestinal function of hamsters as influenced by consumption of polysaccharide-rich sage weed extracts
- Author
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Huang, Ya-Ling and Chau, Chi-Fai
- Subjects
- *
INTESTINAL mucosa physiology , *HAMSTERS as laboratory animals , *FOOD consumption , *POLYSACCHARIDES , *SAGE , *PLANT extracts , *HEMICELLULOSE , *FATTY acids - Abstract
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the water-soluble polysaccharide-rich sage weed (Salvia plebeia) extracts on intestinal function. The results showed that the extract is rich in water-soluble polysaccharides (60.5/100g extract), which are mainly composed of pectic polysaccharides and hemicellulose. The inclusion of sage weed extract in the control diet at a level of 0.5/100g diet resulted in significantly (P <0.05) improved effects on intestinal and faecal parameters of the hamsters, such as shortened gastrointestinal transit time, reduced caecal ammonia, decreased daily faecal ammonia output, increased short-chain fatty acid concentrations in caecal content, and lowered activities of β-d-glucuronidase, β-d-glucosidase, mucinase, and urease. These findings suggest that an adequate intake of sage weed extracts (0.5/100g diet) may play a role in the maintenance of intestinal health by reducing the exposure of intestinal mucosa to toxic materials and other harmful compounds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2012
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