Microencapsulated phenolic compounds from organic coffee husk: Impacts on human gut microbiota and in vitro prebiotic potential

• Published in: Food research international 2025-02, Vol.201, p.115597, Article 115597
• Main Authors: Silva, Gezaildo Santos, Nunes Moreira, Flávia Izabely, Rodrigues de Albuquerque, Thatyane Mariano, Abreu, Thaianaly Leite, Torres de Souza, Eike Guilherme, da Silva, Layane Rosa, Jenyffer de Farias Marques, Antonia Dayane, de Sousa Galvão, Mércia, dos Santos Lima, Marcos, de Souza, Evandro Leite, Madruga, Marta Suely, Kurozawa, Louise Emy, Alencar Bezerra, Taliana Kênia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fecal fermentation; Microencapsulation; Organic coffee; Organic coffee husks; Phenolic compounds; Whey protein concentrate
• ISSN: 0963-9969
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115597

[Display omitted] •Phenolic compounds found in organic coffee husks exhibit potential prebiotic effects.•Metabolism of phenolic compounds produced metabolites for the host’s health.•Fermentation of phenolic compounds increased beneficial gut microbial populations.•Microencapsulation positively impacted the metabolization of phenolic compounds. This research investigated the influence of the microencapsulation of phenolic compounds (PCs) from organic coffee husk with whey protein concentrate (WPC) and maltodextrin on the abundance of intestinal bacterial populations and their metabolic activity during in vitro fecal fermentation. The microencapsulated PCs were gradually metabolized during fecal fermentation, resulting in significant transformations and an increase in PCs in the fermentation media. The metabolism of PCs by the fecal microbiota occurred concurrently with the consumption of sugars, production of organic acids, and reduction in pH in the media. The PCs, especially when encapsulated, promoted an increase in the abundance of Lactobacillus spp./Enterococcus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and Ruminococcus albus/R. flavefaciens, and a reduction in the abundance of Bacteroides spp./Prevotella spp., Clostridium histolyticum, and Eubacterium rectale/Clostridium cocoides. The results suggest that the PCs exhibited prebiotic potential, with their efficacy enhanced by microencapsulation, particularly when WPC was used exclusively as the encapsulating agent.