Recent advances in marine algae oligosaccharides: structure, analysis, and potential prebiotic activities
Xu-Ting Xie1, Kit-Leong Cheong1
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, STU-UNIVPM Joint Algal Research Center, Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, PR China.
Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
|May 3, 2021
Summary
Marine algae oligosaccharides (MAOs) offer health benefits by acting as prebiotics. This review explores MAO sources, structures, and their positive impact on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
Area of Science:
- Marine biotechnology
- Food science
- Microbiology
- Nutraceuticals
Background:
- Marine algae polysaccharides (MAPs) have health benefits but limited applications due to physical properties.
- Marine algae oligosaccharides (MAOs), derived from MAPs, are gaining attention for their therapeutic potential.
- MAOs are non-digestible prebiotics fermented by gut bacteria into beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in marine algae oligosaccharides (MAOs).
- To summarize MAO sources, classification, and structural analysis techniques.
- To highlight the impact of MAOs on gut microbiota, SCFA production, and associated probiotic activities.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent scientific publications on marine algae oligosaccharides.
- Analysis of studies detailing MAO extraction, purification, and characterization methods.
- Synthesis of research on MAO-gut microbiota interactions and their metabolic outputs (SCFAs).
Main Results:
- MAOs exhibit selective prebiotic effects, promoting beneficial gut bacteria.
- Fermentation of MAOs yields SCFAs, contributing to various health-promoting activities.
- MAOs demonstrate potential anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-tumour properties.
Conclusions:
- Marine algae oligosaccharides (MAOs) represent a promising source of functional ingredients with significant prebiotic potential.
- Further research into MAO structures and their precise mechanisms of action is warranted.
- MAOs can be leveraged to develop novel food, agricultural, and medicinal applications.
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