What Are the Applications of Oligosaccharide?

Oligosaccharides, also known as oligosaccharides, refer to oligomeric saccharides whose molecular structure consists of 2 to 10 monosaccharide molecules connected by glycosidic bonds. They are covalently bound to proteins or lipids between polysaccharides and exist in the form of glycoproteins or glycolipids. Oligosaccharide has bioactive functions such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, bacteriostatic, immunity enhancement, and intestinal flora regulation, and have good physical and chemical properties such as low fever, stability, safety, and no toxic side effects. Therefore, it has a good application prospect and has become a hot spot in the field of natural medicine research. Oligosaccharide is not only widely distributed in nature (such as red wine, pumpkin, sugar cane, Morinda Officinalis, dendrobium, ginseng, and other foods and medicinal materials), but also commonly found in animals (human body).

1. Oligosaccharide in clinical medicine

In recent years, the use of safe and efficient food-active ingredients to replace drugs to prevent and treat chronic metabolic diseases has become a hotspot in scientific research. Oligosaccharide has attracted attention and applications because of their extremely low calorific value, improving lipid metabolism, and reducing blood lipids and cholesterol. In addition, there are related invention patents, and the compound application of functional oligosaccharides and probiotic metabolites into skin cleansing products can achieve the effect of regulating skin microecology.

2. Oligosaccharide in agriculture and aquaculture

In agriculture, oligosaccharide can promote plant growth. Some scholars have effectively improved the plant height and leaf area of wheat by spraying sodium alginate oligosaccharide on the leaves of wheat, thereby increasing the yield of wheat. The functions of functional oligosaccharides in feed are mainly to inhibit pathogenic bacteria, proliferate beneficial bacteria, improve animal immunity, protect intestinal health, and reduce the production of harmful gases such as ammonia in feces. The field of feed is developing rapidly and has good prospects. Adding oligosaccharide to feed can improve the growth performance of piglets, improve the distribution of intestinal flora in piglets, reduce the incidence of diarrhea, and thus improve the health status of piglets. The addition of oligosaccharide to poultry, ruminant and aquaculture animal feeds also can improve their growth performance and health.

3. Oligosaccharide in the field of food

Oligosaccharide is ubiquitous in nature. Such as Hericium, yam, corn, soybean content is more. Functional oligosaccharides are the most widely used in the food field, and can be used in dairy products, bread, biscuits, beverages, candy, condiments, infant formulas and yogurt ice cream and other foods. The main functions of oligosaccharide are: As a nutritional component of food; As a sweetener for special food; As a natural food preservative and so on.