The Fructans: A Valuable and Functional Additive as a Prebiotic in Promoting the Disease Prevention in Modern Aquaculture

By : Kalidoss Manikandan , Nathan Felix , Baboon Sundram Ahilan , Cheryl Antony

Page No: 67-79

Abstract
Prebiotics are indigestible feed additives which effect the host beneficially by specifically stimulating the growth activity. Prebiotics in simple term are the food to the probiotics which enhances the probiotic effect. Due to the potential development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the use of feed additives like prebiotics and probiotics are being preferred. The fructans is a general term used to depict the fructose containing polymers like inulin, oligofructose and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) that have the potential as prebiotics. Fructans consists of 2 to 60 chain length units. Inulin is a polymer and a polydisperse ? (2-1) fructan. The oligosaccharide containing 2–10 fructose monomers connected by glycosidic linkages are called Oligofructose. In nature, fructans are found in many plants, including common plants. The prebiotics also play a role in immunomodulatory activity of the host either directly by the interactions with the innate immune system of the host or by improving the growth of beneficial bacteria. Addition of inulin, oligofructose or ScFOS positively affects the intestinal microbiota. Further research is needed in this area to differentiate the health-promoting effects from potentially deleterious responses and know what are the modes of action of the different chemical classes of oligosaccharides. High priority should be given to these prebiotics in the future and many challenge studies should also be included to assess their effects on fish health.

Authors :
Kalidoss Manikandan
Directorate of Incubation and Vocational Training in Aquaculture, ECR-Muttukadu – 603112,Tamil Nadu, India, Dr. M. G. R. Fisheries College and Research Institute, Ponneri-601204, Tamil Nadu, India.

Nathan Felix
Directorate of Incubation and Vocational Training in Aquaculture, ECR-Muttukadu – 603112,Tamil Nadu, India.

Baboon Sundram Ahilan
Dr. M. G. R. Fisheries College and Research Institute, Ponneri – 601204, Tamil Nadu, India.

Cheryl Antony
Dr. M.G.R. Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Ponneri, India.
 

DOI: http://doi.org/10.32381/JAT.2020.35.1-4.7