13th Conference on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Southeast European Countries (CMAPSEEC 2026)

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining human health, influencing gastrointestinal function, metabolism, immune regulation, and host–microbe interactions. Prebiotics are substrates selectively utilized by host microorganisms that confer health benefits, and plant-derived non-digestible carbohydrates represent important natural sources of these compounds. Members of the Asteraceae family are particularly noteworthy because several species accumulate inulin-type fructans as reserve carbohydrates. This review aimed to comparatively evaluate the prebiotic potential of selected Asteraceae species, with particular emphasis on their major prebiotic constituents, effects on gut microbiota, and levels of experimental and clinical evidence. Cichorium intybus L., Helianthus tuberosus L., Cynara cardunculus L., Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp.) H.Rob., Taraxacum officinale F.H.Wigg., and Arctium lappa L. were evaluated based on available literature. Inulin and fructooligosaccharides were identified as the principal compounds associated with prebiotic activity. Human studies provide particularly strong evidence for the bifidogenic effects of inulin-rich preparations derived from C. intybus, H. tuberosus, and C. cardunculus, while clinical findings also support the prebiotic potential of S. sonchifolius. These effects are primarily associated with modulation of beneficial intestinal microorganisms and microbial fermentation of fructans, resulting in the production of short-chain fatty acids. In contrast, evidence for T. officinale and A. lappa remains predominantly preclinical, highlighting the need for well-designed human intervention studies. Overall, selected Asteraceae species represent promising botanical sources of prebiotic compounds and provide an important link between pharmaceutical botany, phytochemistry, and contemporary gut microbiota research.