Abstract
This study is the first to report the production, characterization, and technofunctional properties of exopolysaccharide (EPS) from the probiotic yeast S. boulardii S11 (Sb-EPS). HPLC analysis revealed that Sb-EPS has a heteropolysaccharide structure composed mainly of mannose and glucose. FT-IR and NMR analyses confirmed the polysaccharide structure of EPS. Rheological analysis showed that Sb-EPS exhibited non-Newtonian shear-thinning flow behavior. The EPS exhibited high antioxidant activity at a concentration of 4 mg/mL, with more than 50% radical scavenging capacity for DPPH and ABTS, and 117.72 ± 2.54 mg/mL for FRAP. Additionally, Sb-EPS demonstrated 90.11, 71.30, and 55.95% heavy metal adsorption capacities for Cu(2)⁺, Fe(2)⁺, and Zn(2)⁺, respectively. Furthermore, Sb-EPS's ability to stimulate the growth of probiotic bacteria L. rhamnosus and L. plantarum to a greater extent than glucose and inulin suggests its potential as a prebiotic candidate. The findings indicate that Sb-EPS could be a promising, novel, and functional ingredient for food applications. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-025-02018-3.