β-1,3-glucan, 9051-97-2, is a neutral polysaccharide and can be used as a substrate to identify, differentiate and characterize glucanases.
β-glucan has garnered considerable attention as an immune-enhancing dietary fiber ingredient. Besides enhancing the body's immune function, beta-glucan can elevate the fiber content of food, reduce the reliance on sugar and fat, while preserving the original texture and taste—fulfilling the requirements of a health-conscious diet. As individuals increasingly prioritize health and focus on functional ingredients, the demand for beta-glucan is poised to escalate in the coming years.
β-glucan is a natural dietary fiber, a polysaccharide chain polymerized from glucose monomers. It is present in various plants and microorganisms, encompassing cereals, fungi, and algae. The structure and function of beta-glucans vary depending on the source. β-glucan exhibits diverse biological activities, including immunomodulation, anti-tumor, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-radiation, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects. Its application extends across medicine, functional food, food additives, cosmetics, and feed.
β-glucan offers the advantage of adjusting the texture and taste of food, reducing sugar and fat usage, aligning with the public's pursuit of a healthy diet. With increasing health consciousness and a focus on functional ingredients, the demand for β-glucan is expected to surge. Several countries, including the United States, Canada, Finland, Sweden, China, Japan, and South Korea, have approved β-glucan as an effective immune activator, earning recognition as a gold standard in the field of immunity. By binding to receptors, β-glucan activates immune cells, stimulates cytokine production, elevates antibody levels, and activates the complement system, thereby enhancing the body's resistance to foreign pathogens and microbial invasion, promoting tissue repair.
β-glucan Sources and Regulation
β-glucans from diverse sources, such as grains, yeast, bacteria, algae, and plants, play crucial immune-modulating roles. Properties include blood sugar and lipid reduction, maintenance of intestinal health, enhanced immune function, and improved food properties.
β-Glucan Derived from Cereals:
β-glucans are present in cereals like barley, oats, and rye, comprising glucose units connected through β-1,3 or β-1,4-glucose bonds. Functions encompass lowering blood sugar and lipids, maintaining intestinal health, and regulating immunity. Oat beta-glucan, approved in China in 2014, holds GRAS certification from the US FDA and EU approval.
β-Glucan Derived from Yeast and Fungi:
Yeast and Hericium erinaceus-derived β-glucans, connected through β-1,3- and β-1,6-glucose bonds, enhance immune function. Yeast β-glucan, approved in China in 2010, has applications in infant formula milk powder. It also holds GRAS certification from the US FDA, and the EU approves yeast β-glucan as a new food ingredient.
β-Glucan Derived from Bacterial Fermentation:
β-1,3/α-1,3-glucan, a water-soluble polysaccharide, has applications in regulating intestinal flora, enhancing immunity, promoting intestinal defecation, reducing blood sugar and lipids, relieving fatigue, and repairing liver damage.
Algae-derived β-glucan:
Composed of glucose units connected by β-1,3-glucose bonds, algae β-glucan enhances immune function. Algal β-glucan has high content, easy isolation, and purification, making it suitable for use in various food and beverage categories, except for infant and young child foods.
Plant-derived Beta-glucan:
Callose, a β-glucan found in plant cell walls, linked by beta-1,3-glucose bonds, exhibits antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial activities, suitable for functional foods or drugs.
Pharmaceutical Industry Applications:
β-glucan has broad applications in tumor immunotherapy, vaccines, and potential clinical value in diagnosing fungal infections. In tumor immunotherapy, it initiates a cytotoxic response, serves as a vaccine adjuvant, activates suppressed immune cells, and regulates tumor-related gene expression. As a vaccine adjuvant, it enhances immune sensitivity, antibody production, and vaccine effectiveness.
