Swiftlet’s Nest as Potential Prebiotic Compound for the Gut Beneficial Bacteria

Abdul Salam Babji,Nur 'Aliah Daud

doi:10.21776/ub.jitek.2021.016.01.1

Abdul Salam Babji, Nur 'Aliah Daud

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jitek.2021.016.01.1

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Abstract

Swiftlet’s clean and edible nest has been consumed for centuries as health food. The benefits of the edible bird nest (EBN) are commonly based on historical and observational reports since its discovery, until some were proven scientifically at recent times. The EBN has a potential to be a prebiotic with the bioavailability of glycan within the EBN. In order to test the prebiotic potential, the EBN glycoprotein and EBN extracted glycan went through a simulated human digestion in vitro test which contained at the level of oral, gastric and small intestine. The undigested components were collected and further tested with simulated in vitro human colon model. The findings showed that the improved growth of beneficial bacteria in the presence of EBN substrates have potentials to provide health benefits. The beneficial group of bacteria may improve and strengthened the host immune system and reducing the risk of pathogenic bacterial infection. These health benefits are crucial especially during the severe health situation such as the pandemic of COVID-19. This study had contributed to the functional properties of the EBN, as a prebiotic for the benefits of consumers and EBN industries. The fundamental of this finding in regards to prebiotic activity can be applied to the area of animal production in the application of prebiotics as value added animal feed ingredients.

Highlights

Swiftlets can be found from Nicobar Islands in Indian Ocean to sea caves in the coastal regions of Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Philippines
Based on the result obtained, the growth of beneficial bacteria which represented by the group of Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli-Enterococci and Bacteroides, was improved and much stable in the presence of FOS, edible bird nest (EBN) glycopeptide and EBN glycan
The results showed that the presence of oligosaccharide such as FOS and EBN glycan was much preferred by the gut bacteria as compared to the EBN glycopeptides

Summary

Introduction

Swiftlets can be found from Nicobar Islands in Indian Ocean to sea caves in the coastal regions of Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Philippines. Swiftlets from the species of Aerodramus fuciphagus construct their nest with glutinous strands of starch-like saliva. The saliva is produced by a pair of salivary glands under their tongue. The secretion hardens on exposure after the bird has shaped it into a cup-shaped nest. The nest is functioned to protect their hatchlings (Daud et al, 2019a). After the nest was left empty by the young-adult and independent birds, the edible nest was collected and sold either in its original state after harvesting or in processed form after going through cleaning system. With the advancement of food technology, large variety of EBN related products can be found in the market

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