In recent years, natural plant compounds have received considerable attention from scholars because of health benefits from their relevant bioactive constituents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prebiotic potential and some functional properties of polysaccharides isolated from acorn fruit and date pit. The FTIR spectra of DPP, AP showed the typical bands corresponding to sugars and polysaccharides. AP and DPP were resistant to simulated acidic and enzymatic digestion even more than Inulin (In). The prebiotic activity, which was tested using AP, DPP as carbon source, showed significant increase in the growth and viability of Lactobacillus plantarum A7 (probiotic). Viability of Lactobacillus plantarum A7 in AP, DPP and In supplemented media was stable even after 72 h, whereas in glucose supplemented medium, bacterial growth showed a notable decrease after 24h. Lipid absorption capacity (LAC) and water holding capacity (WHC) of AP, DPP were 5.44±0.02 (g oil/g DM) and 4.33±0.03 (g water/g DM), 1.83±0.03 (g water/g DM), 4.64±0.04(g oil/g DM) respectively, which were comparable to some dietary fibers and were more than In. AP, DPP scavenged DPPH radicals by 82.24%, 37.32%, respectively. AP, DPP were found to have high scavenging ability compared to the reference prebiotic (In), giving a scavenging ability of about 20%. Therefore, due to prebiotic capability, high WHC, LAC and good antioxidant activity, AP, DPP can be suitable candidates for technological applications and health improving effects in functional food. Keywords: Prebiotic, Functional food, Antioxidant activity, Polysaccharide, Acorn, Date pit
