Abstract
This study was aimed at analysing the dietary fibre (DF) content and prebiotic carbohydrate profile of two local pumpkin varieties (Villachchi, Moragollagama) and five imported hybrid varieties (Arjuna, Suprima, Abishek, Lara, Pragathi) grown in Sri Lanka, and investigating the prebiotic potential of pumpkin powder in vivo using the pig as an animal model for human. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique was performed to identify the prebiotic carbohydrate profile. In the feeding trial, pigs were fed with standard diet (SD), pumpkin powder + SD (PD), SD + probiotics, and PD + probiotic. Freeze dried Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (500 mgday-1) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (500 mgday-1) were used as probiotic organisms. At the end of the experimental period, faecal microbial compositions of the pigs were analysed. Results revealed that the total DF content of pumpkin pulp did not vary (p > 0.05) among varieties. However, the local varieties had higher (p
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