Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Functional oligosaccharides: production, properties and applications

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Worldwide interest in oligosaccharides has been increasing ever since they were accorded the prebiotic status. The oligosaccharides of various origin like, bacteria, algae, fungi and higher plants have been used extensively both as food ingredients and pharmacological supplements. The non-digestible oligosaccharides have been implicated as dietary fibre, sweetener, weight controlling agent and humectant in confectioneries, bakeries and breweries. Functional oligosaccharides have been found effective in gastrointestinal normal flora proliferation and pathogen suppression, dental caries prevention, enhancement of immunity, facilitation of mineral absorption, source of antioxidant, antibiotic alternative, regulators of blood glucose in diabetics and serum lipids in hyperlipidemics. Apart from the pharmacological applications, oligosaccharides have found use in drug delivery, cosmetics, animal and fishery feed, agriculture, etc. Keeping in view the importance of the functional oligosaccharides, we present an overview of their natural sources, types, structures, physiological properties. Conventional as well as novel synthesis, purification and analysis methods are summarized. Recent promising developments in this area are presented to facilitate their further exploitation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adachi M, Vallee R (2002) Recent research on glycolipid. New effects of oligosaccharides from brown seaweed. Fragr J 30:73–83

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Astray G, Gonzalez-Barreiro C, Mejuto JC, Rial-Otero R, Simal-Gandara J (2009) A review on the use of cyclodextrins in foods. Food Hydrocolloids 23:1631–1640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bardi L, Ricci R, Marzona M (2003) In situ bioremediation of a hydrocarbon polluted site with cyclodextrin as a coadjuvant to increase bioavailability. Water Air Soil Pollut Focus 3:15–23

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalheiro F, Esteves MP, Parajó JC, Pereira H, Gírio FM (2004) Production of oligosaccharides by autohydrolysis of brewery’s spent grain. Bioresour Technol 91:93–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen HL, Lu YH, Lin J, Ko LY (2000) Effects of fructooligosaccharide on bowel function and indicators of nutritional status in constipated elderly men. Nutr Res 20:1725–1733

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chung HK, Bae EK, Ji HJ, Hwang JS, Park DW, Kim JE, Jung HJ, Choi HJ, Lee DS, Youn HJ (2003) An oligosaccharide fraction from Korean mugwort herb suppresses death of the mouse thymocytes in culture by down-regulating the Fas death receptor gene. Biotechnol Lett 25:1549–1553

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cmelik R, Chmelik J (2010) Structural analysis and differentiation of reducing and nonreducing neutral model starch oligosaccharides by negative-ion electrospray ionization ion-trap mass spectrometry. Int J Mass Spectrom 291:33–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cote GL (2009) Acceptor products of alternansucrase with gentiobiose. Production of novel oligosaccharides for food and feed and elimination of bitterness. Carbohydr Res 344:187–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Courtois J (2009) Oligosaccharides from land plants and algae: production and applications in therapeutics and biotechnology. Curr Opin Microbiol 12:261–273

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crittenden RG, Playne MJ (1996) Production, properties and applications of food-grade oligosaccharides. Trends Food Sci Technol 71:353–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dias LG, Veloso ACA, Correia DM, Rocha O, Torres D, Rocha I (2009) UV spectrophotometry method for the monitoring of galacto-oligosaccharides production. Food Chem 113:246–252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dimitroglou A, Merrifield DL, Spring P, Sweetman J, Moate R, Davies SJ (2010) Effects of mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) supplementation on growth performance, feed utilisation, intestinal histology and gut microbiota of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Aquaculture 300:182–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dodziuk H (2006) Cyclodextrins and their complexes. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co., KGaA, Weinheim

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Du YZ, Wang L, Yuan H, Wei XH, Hu FQ (2009) Preparation and characteristics of linoleic acid-grafted chitosan oligosaccharide micelles as a carrier for doxorubicin. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 69:257–263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ebrahimi M, Placido L, Engel L, Ashaghi KS, Czermak P (2010) A novel; ceramic membrane reactor system for the continuous enzymatic synthesis of oligosaccharides. Desalination 250:1105–1108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eseceli H, Demir E, Degirmencioglu N, Bilgic M (2010) The effects of Bio-Mos® mannan oligosaccharide and antibiotic growth promoter performance of broilers. J Anim Vet Adv 9:392–395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fey PD, Safranek TJ, Rupp ME, Dunne EF, Ribot E, Iwen PC, Bradford PA, Angulo FJ, Hinrichs SH (2000) Ceftriaxone-resistant salmonella infection acquired by a child from cattle. New Engl J Med 342:1242–1249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fric P (2007) Probiotics and prebiotics—renaissance of a therapeutic principle. Cent Eur J Med 2:237–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fujimoto Y, Hattori T, Uno S, Murata T, Usui T (2009) Enzymatic synthesis of gentiooligosaccharides by transglycosylation with β-glycosidases from Penicillium multicolour. Carbohydr Res 344:972–978

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Funane F, Terasawa K, Mizuno Y, Ono H, Miyagi T, Gibu T, Tokashiki S, Kawabata Y, Kim YM, Kimura A, Kobayashi M (2007) A novel cyclic isomaltooligosaccharide (cycloisomaltodecaose, CI-10) produced by Bacillus circulans T-3040 displays remarkable inclusion ability compared with cyclodextrins. J Biotechnol 130:439–445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gambarini AG, Miyamoto CA, Lima GA, Nader HB, Dietrich CP (1993) Mitogenic activity of acidic fibroblast growth factor is enhanced by highly sulfated oligosaccharides derived from heparin and heparan sulphate. Mol Cell Biochem 124:121–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goulas AK, Kapasakalidis PG, Sinclair HR, Rastall RA, Grandison AS (2002) Purification of oligosaccharides by nanofiltration. J Memb Sci 209:321–335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goulas A, Tzortzis G, Gibson GR (2007) Development of a process for the production and purification of α- and β-galactooligosaccharides from Bifidobacterium bifidum NCIMB 41171. Int Dairy J 17:648–656

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gullon P, Moura P, Esteves MP, Girio FM, Dominguez H, Parajo JC (2008) Assessment on the fermentability of xylooligosaccharides from rice husks by probiotic bacteria. J Agric Food Chem 56:7482–7487

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hosomi O, Misawa Y, Takeya A, Matahira Y, Sugahara K, Kubohara Y, Yamakura Y, Kudo S (2009) Novel oligosaccharide has suppressive activity against human leukemia cell proliferation. Glycoconj J 26:189–198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu B, Gong Q, Wang Y, Ma Y, Li J, Yu W (2006) Prebiotic effects of neoagaro-oligosaccharides prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of agarose. Food Microbiol 12:260–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Iliev I, Vassileva T, Ignatova C, Ivanova I, Haertle T, Monsan P, Chobert JM (2008) Gluco-oligosaccharides synthesized by glucosyltransferases from constitutive mutants of Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain Lm 28. J Appl Microbiol 104:243–250

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iwata H, Yana S, Nasu M, Yosue T (2005) Effects of chitosan oligosaccharides on the femur trabecular structure in ovariectomized rats. Oral Radiol 21:19–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnstone KD, Karoli T, Liu L, Dredge K, Copeman E, Li CP, Davis K, Hammond E, Bytheway I, Kostewicz E, Chiu FC, Shackleford DM, Charman SA, Charman SA, Charman WN, Harenberg J, Gonda TJ, Ferro V (2010) Synthesis and biological evaluation of polysulfated oligosaccharide glycosides as inhibitors of angiogenesis and tumor growth. J Med Chem 53:1686–1699

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katapodis P, Christakopoulos P (2008) Enzymatic production of feruloyl xylo-oligosaccharides from corn cobs by a family 10 xylanase from Thermoascus aurantiacus. LWT Food Sci Technol 41:1239–1243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim YS, Park CS, Oh DK (2006) Lactulose production from lactose and fructose by a thermostable β-galactosidase from Sulfolobus solfataricus. Enzyme Microb Technol 39:903–908

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kolida S, Gibson GR (2007) Inulin and oligofructose: health benefits and claims—a critical review. Am Soc Nutr 137:2503–2506

    Google Scholar 

  • Kong F (2007) Recent studies on reaction pathways and applications of sugar orthoesters in synthesis of oligosaccharides. Carbohydr Res 342:345–373

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li XJ, Piao XS, Kim SW, Liu P, Wang L, Shen YB, Jung SC, Lee HS (2007) Effects of chito-oligosaccharide supplementation on performance, nutrient digestibility, and serum composition in broiler chickens. Poult Sci 86:1107–1114

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li KY, Lai P, Lu S, Fang YT, Chen HH (2008) Optimization of acid hydrolysis conditions for feruloylated oligosaccharides from rice bran through response surface methodolgy. J Agric Food Chem 56:8975–8978

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li T, Li S, Du L, Wang N, Guo M, Zhang J, Yan F, Zhang H (2010) Effects of haw pectic oligosaccharide on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in experimental hyperlipidemia mice induced by high-fat diet. Food Chem 121:1010–1013

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu HT, He JL, Li WM, Yang Z, Wang YX, Bai XF (2010) Chitosan oligosaccharides protect human umbilical vein endothelial cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis. Carbohydr Polym. doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2010.01.025

  • Madhukumar MS, Muralikrishna G (2010) Structural characterisation and determination of prebiotic activity of purified xylo-oligosaccharides obtained from Bengal gram husk (Cicer arietinum L.) and wheat bran (Triticum aestivum). Food Chem 118:215–223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahious AS, Gatesoupe FJ, Hervi M, Metailler R, Ollevier F (2006) Effect of dietary inulin and oligosaccharides as prebiotics for weaning turbot, Psetta maxima (Linnaeus, C. 1758). Aquac Int 14:219–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Majumder A, Mangtani A, Patel S, Shukla R, Goyal A (2009) Gluco-oligosaccharides production from glucan of Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-742 by microwave assisted hydrolysis. Curr Trends Biotechnol Pharm 3:405–411

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Minoru S, Yoshio I (2002) Recent research on glycolipid. The molecular mechanism of skin moisturizing effect adored by oligosaccharides. The unique properties of trehalose. Fragr J 30:15–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitsou EK, Panopoulou N, Turunen K, Spiliotis V, Kyriacou A (2010) Impact of a jelly containing short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides and Sideritis euboea extract on human faecal microbiota. Int J Food Microbiol 135:112–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyazawa T, Funazukuri T (2006) Noncatalytic hydrolysis of guar gum under hydrothermal conditions. Carbohydr Res 341:870–877

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moure A, Gullon P, Domínguez H, Parajo JC (2006) Advances in the manufacture, purification and applications of xylo-oligosaccharides as food additives and nutraceuticals. Process Biochem 41:1913–1923

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murata T, Usui T (2002) Efficient synthetic method of obtaining oligosaccharide units and derivatives utilizing endoglycosidases. Biotechnol Bioprocess Eng 7:263–267

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mussatto SI, Mancilha IM (2007) Non-digestible oligosaccharides: a review. Carbohydr Polym 68:587–597

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nabarlatz D, Ebringerova A, Montane D (2007) Autohydrolysis of agricultural by-products for the production of xylo-oligosaccharides. Carbohydr Polym 69:20–28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nacos MK, Katapodis P, Pappas C, Daferera D, Tarantilis PA, Christakopoulos P (2006) Kenaf xylan—a source of biologically active acidic oligosaccharides. Carbohydr Polym 66:126–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakai H, Hachem MA, Petersen BO, Westphal Y, Mannerstedt K, Baumann MJ, Dilokpimol A, Schols HA, Duus JO, Svensson B (2010) Efficient chemoenzymatic oligosaccharide synthesis by reverse phosphorolysis using cellobiose phosphorylase and cellodextrin phosphorylase from Clostridium thermocellum. Biochimie PMID: 20678539

  • Okada H, Fukushi E, Yamamori A, Kawazoe N, Onodera S, Kawabata J, Shiomi N (2010) Novel fructopyranose oligosaccharides isolated from fermented beverage of plant extract. Carbohydr Res 345:414–418

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pocedicova K, Curda L, Misun D, Dryakova A, Diblikova L (2010) Preparation of galacto-oligosaccharides using membrane reactor. J Food Eng. doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2010.02.001

  • Qiang X, YongLie C, QianBing W (2009) Health benefit application of functional oligosaccharides. Carbohydr Polym 77:35–441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quigley EMM (2010) Prebiotics and probiotics; modifying and mining the microbiota. Pharmacol Res 61:213–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raman R, Raguram S, Venkataraman G, Paulson JC, Sasisekharan R (2005) Glycomics: an integrated systems approach to structure–function relationships of glycans. Nat Methods 2:817–824

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rao MS, Chander R, Sharma A (2008) Synergistic effect of chitooligosaccharides and lysozyme for meat preservation. LWT Food Sci Tehnol 4:1995–2001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberfroid M, Slavin J (2000) Nondigestible oligosaccharides. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 40:461–480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rose DJ, Inglett GE (2010) Two-stage hydrothermal processing of wheat (Triticum aestivum) bran for the production of feruloylated arabinoxylooligosaccharides. Agric Food Chem 58:6427–6432

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez O, Guio F, Garcia D, Silva E, Caicedo L (2008) Fructooligosaccharides production by Aspergillus sp. N74 in a mechanically agitated airlift reactor. Food Bioproducts Eng 86:109–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savic IM, Nikolic GS, Savic, IM, Cakic MD (2010) Conductometric studies on the stability of copper complexes with different oligosaccharides. Central Eur J Chem. doi:10.2478/s11532-010-0082-3

  • Thakur M, Dixit VK (2008) Ameliorative effect of fructo-oligosaccharide rich extract of Orchis latifolia Linn. on sexual dysfunction in hyperglycemic male rats. Sex Disabil 26:37–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thammarutwasik P, Hongpattarakere T, Kijroongrojana S, Kijroongrojana K, Itharat A, Reanmongkol W (2009) Prebiotics: a review. Songklanakarin. J Sci Technol 31:401–408

    Google Scholar 

  • Tuohy KM, Rouzaud GC, Bruck WM, Gibson GR (2005) Modulation of the human gut microflora towards improved health using prebiotics-assessment of efficacy. Curr Pharm Des 11:75–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Laere KMJ, Hartemink R, Bosveld M, Schols HA, Voragen AGJ (2000) Fermentation of plant cell wall derived polysaccharides and their corresponding oligosaccharides by intestinal bacteria. J Agric Food Chem 48:1644–1652

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vanhulle S, Radman R, Parra R, Cui T, Bols C-M, Tron T, Sannia G, Tajalli Keshavarz K (2007) Effect of mannan oligosaccharides elicitor and ferulic acid on enhancement of laccase production in liquid cultures of basidiomycetes. Enzyme Microb Technol 40:1712–1718

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Villamiel M, Corzo N, Foda MI, Montes F, Olano A (2002) Lactulose formation catalysed by alkaline-substituted sepiolites in milk permeate. Food Chem 76:7–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weijers CAGM, Franssen MCR, Visser GM (2008) Glycosyltransferase-catalyzed synthesis of bioactive oligosaccharides. Biotechnol Adv 26:436–456

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Westphal Y, Kuhnel S, de Waard P, Schols SWA, Schols HA, Voragen AGJ, Gruppen H (2010) Branched arabino-oligosaccharides isolated from sugar beet arabinan. Carbohydr Res. doi:10.1016/j.carres.2010.03.042

  • Wichienchot S, Jatupornpipat M, Rastall RA (2010) Oligosaccharides of pitaya (dragon fruit) flesh and their prebiotic properties. Food Chem 120:850–857

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu SC, Wen TN, Pan CL (2005) Algal-oligosaccharide-lysates prepared by two bacterial agarases stepwise hydrolyzed and their anti-oxidative properties. Fish Sci 71:1149–1159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yun JW, Choi YJ, Song CH, Song SK (1999) Microbial production of inulo-oligosaccharides by an endoinulinase from Pseudomonas sp. expressed in Escherichia coli. J Biosci Bioeng 87:291–295

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zokaee F, Kaghazchi T, Zare A, Soleimani M (2002) Isomerization of lactose to lactulose-study and comparison of three catalytic systems. Process Biochem 37:629–635

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781 039, India

    Seema Patel & Arun Goyal

Authors
  1. Seema Patel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Arun Goyal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arun Goyal.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Patel, S., Goyal, A. Functional oligosaccharides: production, properties and applications. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 27, 1119–1128 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-010-0558-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-010-0558-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation