In both humans and animals

In both humans and animals, Gum Arabic is not degraded in the small intestine, but fermented in the large intestine by specific microorganisms to short-chain fatty acids, particularly lactic,acetic and propionic acid which decreases the pH to a certain limit (Badreldin et al., 2008). Gum Arabic has a positive influence on the microbiological flora in gut. It is a source of fermentable carbon for the bacteria living in the large gut, thus promoting an increased number of bacteria cells, especially Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides.( Hill, Ml.1983) Those bacteria are also used as Probiotics. Their high number in gut have potential negative effect on strains, pathogenic strains, such as E.coli and Salmonella, thus preventing the growth of pathogens in the gut. Prebiotics also leads to a higher faecal volume and a longer passage through the ceacum allowing a better digestion and absorption of other nutrient.( Bliss, 1996). Gum arabic also has an influence on the growth of the Epithelium cells of the digestive system. A 15% gum arabic solution fed to rats resulted in an increase the weight of the ceacum ( Tulung., 1997).

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