Prebiotic potential of gum Arabic for gut health

Ahmed A. M. Elnour
adamhassan@ump.edu.my (Primary Contact)
Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, and Centre of Excellence for Advanced Research in Fluid Flow, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Gambang, Malaysia";}
Nour Hamid Abdurahman
Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), Malaysia
Khalid Hamid Musa
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Zafar Rasheed
Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Abstract

Gum Arabic (GA), traditionally used as a food stabilizer, demonstrates potential as a health-promoting prebiotic, beneficially modulating the human gut microbiome. A balanced microbiome is crucial for maintaining overall health and preventing diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and obesity. GA's non-digestible nature allows it to ferment into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the large intestine, improving gut barrier function and immune response. Studies reveal GA's promising roles in promoting beneficial gut bacteria and exhibiting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. However, comprehensive research is pivotal for optimizing its applications across diverse sectors and explaining its prebiotic mechanisms, emphasizing the necessity for standardized evaluation and increased awareness regarding its beneficial effects.

Keywords:

Gum arabic Dietery fibers Prebiotics
Table of Contents
A. M Elnour, D. A., Hamid Nour , A., Musa, K. H., & Rasheed, Z. (2023). Prebiotic potential of gum Arabic for gut health. International Journal of Health Sciences, 17(6), 4–5. Retrieved from https://pub.qu.edu.sa/index.php/journal/article/view/8453
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Author Biographies

Ahmed A. M. Elnour, Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, and Centre of Excellence for Advanced Research in Fluid Flow, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Gambang, Malaysia";}

Dr. Elnour earned his B.Sc. in Biochemistry with first-class honors (3.50/4.00 CGPA) from the University of Kordofan, Sudan, in 2003. He completed a master's degree in Analytical Chemistry with an "Excellent" rating from the University of Khartoum in 2007. In 2020, Dr. Elnour was awarded a Ph.D. in Biotechnology Engineering from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), receiving the distinction of "Excellent/best thesis. That same year, he secured an outstanding postdoctoral research fellowship sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank's Merit Scholarship Program (IsDB-MSP). His research project, entitled "Cancer-on-a-Chip Base as a New Paradigm: Potential Applications of Gum Arabic Extraction in the Development of Breast Cancer Therapeutics," gained notable recognition and was featured in IsDB's success stories and appointed as a distinguished member of the panel of IsDB external reviewers (https://isdbscholarships.smartsimple.com/iface/ex/ax_index.jsp). Dr. Elnour's primary research interests encompass the integration of Biotechnology Engineering and phytochemistry, specifically focusing on extracting leading bioactive compounds (LBCPs) from medicinal plants using green solvent systems. These compounds are then applied to human organs-on-a-chip (OoCs) technology and other related biological applications and commercialization, an innovative approach to personalized medicine and anti-inflammatory agents. Over the past five years, he has employed a fractionation process to extract LBCPs from the Acacia Complex Groups of Gums. This work aims to understand better the physicochemical properties, nutritional values, and functional foods associated with these extracted LBCPs. Dr. Elnour's contributions have positively impacted multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG-1, SDG-2, SDG-3, SDG-4, SDG-8, SDG-9, SDG-13, and SDG-17. He currently holds a postdoctoral fellowship at the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology and the Centre of Excellence for Advanced Research in Fluid Flow (CARIFF) at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Gambang, Malaysia. Further details in key research and publications on ORCID Profile (https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-1924-094X).

Nour Hamid Abdurahman, Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), Malaysia

Abdurahman. H. Nour completed his first degree in Petroleum Engineering at Alfateh University, Libya, then got his first master of Science, M. Sc, in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 2000 and his second Master of Science, M.Sc in Petroleum Engineering, Aalborg University of Engineering (Aalborg U) Denmark, 2003 Denmark. He completed his doctorate in Petroleum Engineering at Universiti Technology Malaysia, UTM, in 2006. Then he joined Universiti Malaysia Pahang, UMP as a visiting lecturer in 2007. He established the Department of Research and Development (R&D) IN March 2007; after extensive research and development, he was promoted to associate professor in 2009. He was appointed Deputy Dean for Research and Development and Postgraduate (R&D) at the Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering, FKKSA, from 2012-2016. He was promoted to full Professor in 2014 and Head of the Separation Cluster in the Faculty. He got an Honorary Doctoral of Letters (HonDL) from the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, UK 2014. His area of expertise is oil and Technology; flow enhancement in pipeline transportation; membrane separation processes; ultrasonic separation processes; Microwave-assisted processes; Natural product and medicine chemistry; wastewater treatment; and separation processes. His professional membership: Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE; Royal Society of Chemistry, UK; Society of Danish Engineers, SDE; Asia Pacific Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering Society (APCBEES). International Industrial Research Grants, he received an International Industrial Grant, total: RM 2,000,000.00. He has supervised, as the main supervisor, 22 PhD and 28 Master's students (all graduated). Research publications, he published more than 300 research manuscripts in different high-impact research journals. He secured 12 granted research Patents.

 

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