Efficiency of Amazonian tubers flours in modulating gut microbiota of male rats

•Amazonian tubers are promisor food produced for familiar agriculture at Amazonas.•D. trifida, D. altissima, C. allouia had different prebiotic effect in vitro.•D. trifida and C. allouia fibers influenced Lactobacillus growth in vitro.•D. trifida and C. allouia flours were font of carbohydrate, tryptophan and minerals.•Diets with D. trifida and C. allouia flours modulated microbiota gut in animals.

The aim was to investigate the influence of D. trifida, C. allouia and D. altissima Amazonian tubers in gut bacteria growth in vitro and in vivo. The best result in vitro was D. trifida fiber that stimulated bacterial growth without significative difference of commercial inulin. Because of the great results, D. trifida and C. allouia were chosen for flours production and in vivo tests. These tubers studied were efficient for producing flours source of carbohydrate, tryptophan and valine and minerals both with different prebiotic effects. D. trifida and C. allouia flours have high carbohydrate content (84% and 81%), lower levels of lipids (0.9% and 0.9%), protein (2.3% and 4.2%), fiber (2.2% and 1.9%), minerals and essential amino acids. The rats gut microbiota were influenced by diet with D. trifida demonstrating an expressive bifidogenic effect and C. allouia influenced Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus population in the animals gut.Industrial relevanceThe flours of Dioscorea trifida and Calathea allouia are considered a simple technology that guarantees a longer shelf life for those tubers. The modulation effect on gut microbiota of rats is an unpublished evidence that increases value of the product. These results also suggest that the tubers consumption could be stimulated.In this study, we highlight evidences of beneficial health function of these tubers. This scientific study suggests that these tubers flours could be a tool for nutritional therapy. It also incentive the produce of flours to fomenting the productive chain, since the flour tuber technology use can contribute to the local economy.