Serafica Btari Christiyani K, S.Si., M.Sc Pengarang

Abstract. Oligosaccharides is a potential prebiotic and used as an alternative diet therapy for diabetes mellitus. Gembili (Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill) is known as functional food that contains oligosaccharides. This study was done to isolate oligosaccharides from gembili and evaluate its prebiotics potential. Oligosaccharides was extracted and analysed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Potential of prebiotics was analysed using faecal samples from healthy volunteers in anaerobic condition at certain time interval (0, 24, and 48 hours) and bacterial growth (Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus as probiotic bacteria, Bacteroides and Clostridium as patogen bacteria), prebiotic index were analysed. Short Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) production (acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid) analyzed using HPLC. The results showed that oligosaccharides from gembili contains lactulose (0,231 %); inulin (2,541 %) and rafinose (1,485 %). Prebiotic index increased from 0,86 ± 0,20 (24 hours incubation) to 1,12 ± 0,05 (48 hours). This oligosaccharides increased probiotics and decreased patogen bacteria. It could be concluded that oligosaccharides from gembili were potential as prebiotics.