Investigation of the Prebiotic Properties of the Yam Bean (Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urban) Tuber Extract

Abstract

Mexican yam bean or Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urban), Fabaceae family is widely cultivated in several tropical countries in Central America, Western Africa and Southeast Asia. Its edible tuberous root is generally consumed as fresh fruit in Thailand especially in the Northeast of the country. The plant of yam bean can be cultivated simply even in the relative drought area with a growth cycle of approximately 6-8 months. 1 It was reported that the tuber of yam bean contained a high level of water with substantial amounts of various types of carbohydrate, including starch, sucrose and reducing sugar. 2 Additionally, the amount of crude fiber in yam bean tuber was considerably higher than those in potato and sweet potato for approximately 14 and 4 times, respectively. 2 Due to its nutritive value, easy-cultivable and low-priced characteristics, the yam bean tuber provides an alternative source of food to combat malnutrition in developing countries. 3 In addition to its nutritional benefits, the tuberous root of the yam bean was shown to possess inulin, a polysaccharide of fructose polymer linked by  (21) linkage with a glucose residue at its end. It was demonstrated that the yields of inulin derived from the yam bean tubers varied regarding the preparation methods with the inulin yields of 11.97%-12.15%, 11.21%-11.38% and 9.9% obtained from the ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE), the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and the conventional hot water extraction methods, respectively. 4

Polysaccharides of nutritional interest in jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) during root development

“…Jicama root studies have been reported by different authors, citing results about their nutraceutical properties (Buckman et al.,2018; González et al., 2018; Khalid & Wan, 2015), including prebiotics (Pulbutr et al., 2021) and dietary fiber (Santoso et al., 2021). For example, a study carried out in murine models regarding the hypoglycemic effect of jicama aqueous extract showed a decrement in blood glucose levels and body weight (Park et al., 2016; Santoso et al., 2019).…”

“…(2021) demonstrated that jicama root extract (soluble fiber) could activate the adaptive immune response by improving the production of cytokines and immunoglobulins (IL‐6, IL‐10, TNF‐a, IgA and IgG) by B cells, while Pulbutr et al. (2021) established that yam bean tuber extract, used as a prebiotic, enhanced the growth of Lactobacillus L. plantarum . In 2020 and 2021, Santoso et al reported that jicama fiber prevents type 2 diabetes mellitus, considering it as a reliable supplement for counteracting the development of this disease.…”