Biosynthesis, Structure and Utilization of Food-Derived Natural Polysaccharides

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 9992

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
Interests: fungal polysaccharide; biosynthesis mechanism; structural characterization; modification; structure-function relationship
College of Food Science and Technology, Bohai University, Jinzhou 121013, China
Interests: interface properties of polysaccharide
School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
Interests: biosynthesis and production of mushroom polysaccharide; structure and property of natural polysaccharide; nano-delivery vehicles using β-glucan

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polysaccharides are the most abundant macromolecules found in natural resources, such as plants, algae, fungi and bacteria. With a unique and complex structure, polysaccharides exert several biological and pharmacological effects and are therefore among the most promising possibilities in the food, cosmetics, biomaterials, and pharmaceutical fields. Accordingly, an increasing number of polysaccharides have been identified from various sources, which have been deeply characterized and modified, and on which studies have been performed with regard to their structure–function relationships. In addition, biosynthesis of tailored natural polysaccharide has also attracted increasing attention.

Therefore, we would like to invite authors to contribute original research articles or review articles focused on advances in natural polysaccharides and their derivatives, which have current or potential utilizations in fields such as functional foods, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Potential topics include but are not limited to:

  • Novel chemical, enzymatic, or physical preparation techniques for natural polysaccharides;
  • Production or biosynthesis of polysaccharide and related enzymes;
  • Structural characterization and modification of polysaccharides;
  • Advances in the analytical methodologies of polysaccharides;
  • Physicochemical characterization and biological effects of polysaccharides;
  • Bioactivity mechanism and structure–function relationship of polysaccharides;
  • Utilization of natural/modified polysaccharides to foods, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, or other products;
  • Interaction between polysaccharides and food matrices;
  • Any other topics that are deemed relevant to the main scope of this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Zhongyang Ding
Dr. He Liu
Dr. Lei Chen
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • natural polysaccharide
  • biosynthesis
  • structural characterization
  • modification
  • structure–function relationship
  • utilization

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 3664 KiB  
Article
Structure of Polysaccharide from Dendrobium nobile Lindl. and Its Mode of Action on TLR4 to Exert Immunomodulatory Effects
by Lian Li, Hang Chen, Guichun Huang, Yiyi Lv, Li Yao, Zhongxia Guo, Shuyi Qiu, Xiaodan Wang and Chaoyang Wei
Foods 2024, 13(9), 1356; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13091356 - 28 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1092
Abstract
Dendrobium nobile Lindl. polysaccharide (DNP1) showed good anti-inflammatory activity in our previous study. In this study, the structural characterization of DNP1 and its mode of action on TLR4 were investigated. Structural characterization suggested that DNP1 was a linear glucomannan composed of (1 → [...] Read more.
Dendrobium nobile Lindl. polysaccharide (DNP1) showed good anti-inflammatory activity in our previous study. In this study, the structural characterization of DNP1 and its mode of action on TLR4 were investigated. Structural characterization suggested that DNP1 was a linear glucomannan composed of (1 → 4)-β-Manp and (1 → 4)-β-Glcp residues, and the acetyl group was linked to the C-2 of Manp. The possible repeating structural units of DNP1 were [→4)-2-OAc-β-Manp-(1→]3 →4)-β-Glcp-(1→. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) binding test results showed that DNP1 did not bind directly to TLR4. The TLR4 and MD2 receptor blocking tests confirmed that DNP1 needs MD2 and TLR4 to participate in its anti-inflammatory effect. The binding energy of DNP1 to TLR4-MD2 was −7.9 kcal/mol, indicating that DNP1 could bind to the TLR4-MD2 complex stably. Therefore, it is concluded that DNP1 may play an immunomodulatory role by binding to the TLR4-MD2 complex and inhibiting the TLR4-MD2-mediated signaling pathway. Full article
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16 pages, 3423 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics of Fungal Polysaccharides Derived from Wolfiporia cocos and Their Effect on Human Fecal Microbiota
by Ka Lee Ma, Nelson Kei, Fan Yang, Susana Lauw, Po Lam Chan, Lei Chen and Peter Chi Keung Cheung
Foods 2023, 12(21), 4014; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12214014 - 2 Nov 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1858
Abstract
Gut microbiota has been described as a new ‘organ’ that interferes with host physiology by its metabolites produced from the utilization and biotransformation of undigested food components. Fu Ling (FL), the sclerotia of fungi Wolfiporia cocos, contains β-glucan, which is a known [...] Read more.
Gut microbiota has been described as a new ‘organ’ that interferes with host physiology by its metabolites produced from the utilization and biotransformation of undigested food components. Fu Ling (FL), the sclerotia of fungi Wolfiporia cocos, contains β-glucan, which is a known natural polysaccharide with strong medicinal efficacy. This study endeavors to evaluate the fermentability of FL and polysaccharides extracted from its sclerotia. An in vitro fermentation of structurally characterized FL and its β-glucan by human fecal microbiota was conducted. Total bacterial count, pH change, short-chain fatty acid profile and microbiota profile were assessed post-fermentation. FL containing over 70% of β-(1 → 3) and (1 → 6)-glucans with a low degree of branching of 0.24 could enhance acetic acid (a major microbial metabolite) production. Both FL and its extracted β-glucan had similar modulation on microbial composition. They enriched Phascolarctobacterium faecium, Bacteroides dorei and Parabacteroides distasonis, all of which are shown to possess anti-inflammatory effects. FL polysaccharide can be utilized as a natural whole food for its potential health benefits to human gut bacteria. Full article
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19 pages, 3608 KiB  
Article
Structure Characterization, In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Tumor Activity of Sulfated Polysaccharide from Siraitia grosvenorii
by Pin Gong, Mengrao Wang, Yuxi Guo, Hui Long, Zhineng Wang, Dandan Cui, Wenbo Yao, Wenjuan Yang, Fuxin Chen and Jianwu Xie
Foods 2023, 12(11), 2133; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12112133 - 25 May 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2121
Abstract
From Siraitia grosvenorii, a natural polysaccharide named SGP-1 was discovered, and its purity was determined to be 96.83%. Its structure is a glucan with 4-, 6- and 4,6-linked glucose units. In this paper, the sulfated derivative S-SGP of SGP-1 was prepared by [...] Read more.
From Siraitia grosvenorii, a natural polysaccharide named SGP-1 was discovered, and its purity was determined to be 96.83%. Its structure is a glucan with 4-, 6- and 4,6-linked glucose units. In this paper, the sulfated derivative S-SGP of SGP-1 was prepared by the chlorosulfonic acid method. The sulfated derivatives were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The degree of substitution (DS) of the polysaccharide is 0.62, and the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is 1.34 × 104 Da. While retaining the morphological characteristics of polysaccharides, S-SGP appeared a large number of spherical structures and strong intermolecular forces. The in vitro activity study of S-SGP showed that the sulfated derivatives had the ability to scavenge DPPH radicals, hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions, and the scavenging power tended to increase with the increase in polysaccharide concentration. It can inhibit the growth of human hepatoma cells (HepG2), human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and human non-small cell lung cancer cells (A549) in vitro. In addition, the treatment of A549 cells with sulfuric acid derivatives can decrease the mitochondrial membrane potential, induce apoptosis, and alter the expression of apoptosis-related mRNA and protein. Full article
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Review

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15 pages, 1106 KiB  
Review
Utilization of Food-Derived β-Glucans to Prevent and Treat Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
by Nelson Kei, Vincent Wai Sun Wong, Susana Lauw, Lijun You and Peter Chi Keung Cheung
Foods 2023, 12(17), 3279; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12173279 - 1 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3087
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease nowadays. Currently, there is no officially approved drug to treat NAFLD. In view of the increasing global prevalence of NAFLD and an absence of treatments, the development of effective treatments [...] Read more.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease nowadays. Currently, there is no officially approved drug to treat NAFLD. In view of the increasing global prevalence of NAFLD and an absence of treatments, the development of effective treatments is of utmost importance. β-glucan, a natural bioactive polysaccharide, has demonstrated hepatoprotective effects in NAFLD prevention and treatment. This review solely focuses on gathering the published preclinical animal studies that demonstrated the anti-liver injury, anti-steatotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and antioxidant activities of β-glucan. The impact of β-glucan on gut microbiota and its metabolites including short-chain fatty acids and bile acids as the underlying mechanism for its bioactive beneficial effect on NAFLD is also explored. Given the limited knowledge of β-glucan on anti-fibrotic activity, bile acid metabolism, and gut microbiota function, additional relevant research is highly encouraged to lay a solid foundation for the use of food-derived β-glucan as a functional food for NAFLD. It is envisaged that further investigation of food-derived β-glucan in human clinical studies should be carried out for its wider utilization. Full article
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