PROBIOTICS AND PREBIOTICS

G.K. MEGHWANSHI¹, PRAVEEN GEHLOT²*, RAKESH PATHAK³, S.K. SINGH^4
1Department of Microbiology, Maharaja Ganga Singh University, Bikaner, 334004, Rajasthan
²Department of Botany, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, 342001, Rajasthan
³Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, 342003, Rajasthan
⁴Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, 342003, Rajasthan
* Corresponding Author : drpg73@rediffmail.com

Received : 14-06-2016     Accepted : 22-06-2016     Published : 30-06-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 6       Pages : 762 - 768
Int J Microbiol Res 8.6 (2016):762-768

Keywords : Health benefits, Prebiotics, Probiotics
Academic Editor : Alkesh Tak, Indu Singh Sankhla
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : None declared
Author Contribution : None declared

Probiotics and prebiotics are a special class of food products as their application in wellness of human beings is well established. Probiotics are living microorganisms that are taken as dietary supplements while prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates as dietary components that act as food and promote the growth and proliferation of probiotic microorganisms. There is exponential growth in the commercial exploration of probiotics as food, nutritional supplements, biologics and pharmaceuticals due to their health benefits. Various effects of probiotics and prebiotics on health have been documented.