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The beneficial immunomodulation effects of a biological response modifier glucan (BRMG) produced by two strains of Aureobasidium pullulans, AFO-202 and N-163, have already been reported. Herein, we compared their efficacy on immune-inflammatory parameters in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. This study was performed on four groups of healthy SD rats, n=6 in each group: Group 1, euthanised on Day 0 for baseline values; Group 2, control (drinking water); Group 3, AFO-202 beta glucan, 200 mg/kg/day; and Group 4, N-163 beta glucan, 300 mg/kg/day. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) decreased and leukocyte-to C-reactive protein ratio (LeCR) increased in Group 3 (AFO-202) at 15 and 29 days whereas the lymphocyte to C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) increased in group 4 (N-163), within the normal physiological range. These promising results warrant further investigations in larger numbers of healthy and diseased models to develop appropriate strategies for balancing immune system dysregulation.

Beta-glucan has been shown to have a beneficial effect on gastrointestinal health. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of β-glucan isolated from Agrobacterium sp. ZX09 on growth performance and intestinal health of weaning pigs. A total of 108 weaned pigs (21 d of age; 6.05 ± 0.36 kg) were randomly divided into 3 groups (6 pens/group; 6 pigs/pen), and the groups were each treated with the following diets: 1) basal diet, 2) basal diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg olaquindox, 3) basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg β-glucan, for 21 d. Compared with the control group, pigs fed with 200 mg/kg β-glucan had greaterBW, average daily gain and duodenal villus height to crypt depth ratio (P

Background Currently, supplementary serological testing for β-D glucan (BDG) is often selected to diagnose deep mycosis in care covered by the health insurance in Japan. The Wako method used by our center has low sensitivity, and different studies have used different cut-off values due to factors that cause false positives and false negatives. One possible cause of false negatives is the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as the sample material. Because phagocytic white blood cells (WBC) are precipitated by centrifugation and only plasma is measured, it seems unlikely that the actual amount of BDG is being measured when using PRP. Further, a frequent cause of false positives is contamination from blood products and gauze containing BDG. To resolve these issues, the blood cell separator, hydroxyethyl starch, is used to precipitate only the red blood cells to obtain leukocyte-rich plasma (LRP). We hypothesized that it might be possible to improve the diagnostic rate of deep mycosis by measuring the BDG content of plasma containing WBC and fungal components and by comparing the BDG content of PRP and LRP measured simultaneously. Materials and methods Healthy human blood, albumin-added blood, wrung-out gauze fluid-added blood, and fungal solution-added blood were prepared, and PRP and LRP were prepared using hydroxyethyl starch. The BDG content of each sample was measured using the Wako method and compared. In addition, PRP and LRP of fungal-added blood were Gram-stained and examined under a microscope, and the number of WBCs and phagocytosed fungi was counted visually and compared. Results Measuring the BDG content of LRP confirmed that there were no false positives with LRP, and in vitro experiments comparing albumin-added false-positive blood to fungal-added blood showed significant differences between PRP and LRP only in the fungal-added blood. Conclusion Calculating the BDG-ratio (LRP/PRP) by measuring both LRP and PRP may eliminate false positives and false negatives of true deep mycosis and improve the diagnostic rate.

Among different cereals, oat is becoming more popular due to its unique composition and health benefits. The increase in oat production is associated with an increase in related side streams, comprising unutilized biomass that is rich in valuable components, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and antioxidants. To valorize such biomass, it is fundamental that side streams enter back into the food production chain, in respect of the circular economy model. Here, we propose the use of soluble and insoluble oat-production side-stream in suspensions and emulsions, avoiding any further extraction, fractionation, and/or chemical derivatization. Our approach further increases the value of these side streams. To this aim, we first studied the effect of thermal and mechanical processes on the behavior and properties of both soluble and insoluble oat side-stream fractions in water and at air/water interface. Then, we characterized the emulsifying and stabilizing abilities of these materials in oil-in-water emulsions. Interestingly, we found that the insoluble fraction was able to form stable suspensions and emulsions after mechanical treatment. The oil droplets in the emulsions were stabilized by anchoring at the surface of the insoluble particles. On the other hand, the soluble fraction formed only stable viscous solutions. Finally, we demonstrated that the two fractions can be combined to increase the storage stability of the resulting emulsion.Our results highlight that oat production side streams can be used as novel bio-based emulsifiers, showing the great potential behind the underutilized cereal-side-stream biomass. Graphical Abstract

Natural polymer materials have high biocompatibility and are not toxic because they can decompose into metabolites in the body; thus, they are widely used as medical polymer materials as well as porous support materials. As a biopolymer, alginate has a negative charge; in contrast, chitosan has a positive charge. Therefore, when the two substances are mixed, they form a relatively stable structure by ionic bonding. Beta-glucan is known to contribute to material stability and have high skin penetration, skin moisturizing and soothing effects, and burn and wound healing effects. In this study, antimicrobial activity was assessed by preparing alginate-chitosan hydrogel patches containing beta-glucan nanoemulsions. This could contribute to the development of wound dressings with antibacterial properties.

β-Linked polysaccharides including β-glucans are well known to be important functional ingredients, and are known to possess immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activities. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties and participating receptor of water soluble and insoluble bioactive polysaccharides from Grifola frondosa (GFP, non-digestible water soluble polysaccharides), Laminaria digitata (laminarin, a water soluble β-glucan) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (zymosan, a water insoluble β-glucan) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated parental and Dectin-1 highly expressing RAW264.7 macrophages. Results showed that GFP and laminarin significantly inhibited nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production, but only the GFP with high molecular weight exhibited strong inhibition on pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. The activation of NF-κB was also significantly down-regulated by GFP treatment as compared with cells treated with LPS alone. Although GFP and laminarin were able to bind to β-glucan receptor Dectin-1, there was no relationship between the inhibitory potency and the content of β-glucans in GFP, and these inhibitory effects were not affected by the expression level of Dectin-1 in macrophage cells. In contrast, zymosan significantly intensified LPS-induced inflammatory responses through Dectin-1. In conclusion, these results suggest that the inhibitory effects of water soluble polysaccharides on LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediator production in murine macrophages may not involve β-glucan receptor Dectin-1.

β-Glucans have long been used as an immunostimulant in aquaculture. However, the relationship of its structure to its immunomodulatory properties are poorly understood. In this study, the particle size and chemical structure of β-glucans extracted from wild-type strain of baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and its null-mutant yeasts Gas1 were characterised. Using Sigma β-glucan as a reference, the immunomodulatory properties of these polysaccharides in the germ-free Artemia franciscana model system in the presence of Vibrio harveyi bacterial challenge were investigated. The survival of the A. franciscana nauplii, upon challenge with V. harveyi, was significantly higher in all three glucan-treated groups compared to the control. The glucan Gas1 with a lower degree of branching and shorter side chain length had the most prominent V. harveyi-protective effects. The particle size did not affect the nauplii survival when challenged with V. harveyi. Results also showed that the salutary effect of the tested glucans was associated with the upregulation of innate immune genes such as lipopolysaccharide and β-1,3-glucan-binding protein (lgbp), high mobility group box protein (hmgb), and prophenoloxidase (proPO). Interestingly, the up-regulation of superoxidase dismutase (sod) and glutathione-s-transferase (gst) was only observed in Gas1 treated group, indicating that Gas1 could function to induce higher reactive oxygen species and stronger immunomodulatory function in A. franciscana, and therefore higher survival rate. The expression of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), peroxinectin (pxn), and down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (dscam) remain unaltered in response to glucan treatment. Taken together, this study provides insights into the structure-function relationship of β-glucan and the results confirmed that β-glucan can be an effective immunostimulant in aquaculture, especially the Gas1 glucan.

The architecture of endosperm cell walls in Hordeum vulgare (barley) differs remarkably from that of other grass species and is affected by germination or malting. Here, the cell wall microstructure is investigated using (bio)chemical analyses, cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) as the main techniques. The relative proportions of β-glucan, arabinoxylan and pectin in cell walls were 61, 34 and 5%, respectively. The average thickness of a single endosperm cell wall was 0.30 µm, as estimated by the cryo-SEM analysis of barley seeds, which was reduced to 0.16 µm after malting. After fluorescent staining, 3D confocal multiphoton microscopy (multiphoton CLSM) imaging revealed the complex cell wall architecture. The endosperm cell wall is composed of a structure in which arabinoxylan and pectin are colocalized on the outside, with β-glucan depositions on the inside. During germination, arabinoxylan and β-glucan are hydrolysed, but unlike β-glucan, arabinoxylan remains present in defined cell walls in malt. Integrating the results, an enhanced model for the endosperm cell walls in barley is proposed. ispartof: PLANT JOURNAL vol:103 issue:4 pages:1477-1489 ispartof: location:England status: published

Due to the presence of numerous bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides and polyphenols, mushroom-based food supplements are claimed to have many beneficial health effects. Despite their popularity, concerns have been raised in recent years over the quality of mushroom products, particularly regarding their non-standardized chemical composition. In this study, the β-glucan and total phenolic contents, as well as the antioxidant potential of mushroom-derived supplements available on the Serbian market were analyzed. The obtained results, revealing considerable differences in β-glucan and total polyphenol contents among these products, reflect variations in mushroom species, forms and recommended dosing regimens. A correlation between the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity was observed. The presence of other active ingredients, such as vitamin C, has contributed to antioxidant variability among the analyzed products. The obtained results indicate the need for the standardization of mushroom-derived food supplements to ensure their claiming effects. ANALYSIS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF MUSHROOM BASED-DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS 449 ИЗВОД АНАЛИЗА САДРЖАЈА БЕТА-ГЛУКАНА И АНТИОКСИДАТИВНА АКТИВНОСТ У ДОДАЦИМА ИСХРАНИ НА БАЗИ ГЉИВА МИЛИЦА ЗРНИЋЋИРИЋ1, НЕВЕНА ДАБЕТИЋ1, ВАЊА ТОДОРОВИЋ1, ЈЕЛЕНА ЂУРИШ2 и БОЈАНА ВИДОВИЋ11 Универзитет у Београду, Фармацеутскифакултет, Катедра за Броматологију, Београд Универзитет у Београду, Фармацеутски факултет, Катедра за Фармацеутску технологију и козметологију, Београд. Због присуства бројних биоактивних састојака, укључујући полисахариде и поли-феноле, додаци исхрани на бази гљива имају бројне позитивне здравствене ефекте. Поред популарности, последњих година се велика пажња посвећује и квалитету производа од гљива, посебно у погледу њиховог не стандардизованог хемијског састава. У овом раду анализиранје садржајβ-глукана и укупних полифенола, као и антиоксидативни потенцијал додатака исхрани на бази гљива који су доступни на тржишту Србије. Добијени резултати су показали велике разлике у садржају β-глукана и укупних полифенола што се може објаснити различитим врстама гљива, облицима и режимима дозирања. Уочена је корелација између укупног садржаја полифенола и антиоксидативне активности. Присуство других биолошки активних састојака, као што је витамин Ц, допринело је варијабилности антиоксидантне активности између анализираних производа. Добијени резултати указују на потребу за стандардизацијом дoдатака исхрани на бази гљива, како би се осигурао њихов ефекат.

Wild-grown fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Fomitopsis betulina (Agaricomycetes, birch bracket mushroom, = Piptoporus betulinus) in different growing stages were collected and analyzed for their beta-glucan content. It could be shown that no significant difference in beta-glucan content regarding size or location of the collected fruiting bodies could be determined, but all samples displayed high values of beta-glucan in comparison to other well-known culinary or medicinal mushroom species. Furthermore, F. betulina fruiting bodies extracted with cold sodium chloride were separated into several fractions by cross flow ultrafiltration, and glucan and protein content were analyzed. The fractions showed varying amounts of beta-glucan and very low protein contents were detected. Also, bioactivity of the fractionated extract was analyzed. None of the mushroom extract fractions induced significant cytotoxicity after 48 h of incubation at a concentration up to 1 mg/mL. Interestingly, in a scratch wound assay, the extract FbS 1, an ultrafiltrated fraction > 300 kDa, was able to block tumor cell migration by 38% compared to solvent control after 48 h of incubation at a concentration of 0.33 mg/mL. In conclusion, our results have high potential for identifying novel antitumor activities based on F. betulina.

This experiment was conducted to investigate growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of finishing pigs with dietary β-glucan supplementation. A total of 96 healthy pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire; initial average BW = 25 kg) were randomly allocated into 4 dietary treatments with 6 replicates per treatment and 4 pigs per replicate. The control group was fed a basal diet, and the experimental diets were supplemented with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg Agrobacterium sp. ZX09 β-glucan, respectively. The experiment lasted 103 d. The basal diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg β-glucan significantly increased average daily gain and feed conversion ratio, probably due to the improved digestibility of dry matter, gross energy and crude protein (P

Recent advances on brewer’s yeast cell wall polysaccharides have unraveled exquisite structural features and diverse composition with (β1→3), (β1→6), (α1→4), (β1→4)- mix-linked glucans that are recognized to interact with different cell receptors and trigger specific biological responses. Herein, a comprehensive showcase of structurebiofunctional relationships between yeast polysaccharides and their biological targets is highlighted, with a focus on polysaccharide features that govern the biomedical activity. The insolubility of β-glucans is a crucial factor for binding and activation of Dectin-1 receptor, operating as adjuvants of immune responses. Contrarily, soluble low molecular weight β-glucans have a strong inhibition of reactive oxygen species production, acting as antagonists of Dectin-1 mediated signaling. Soluble glucan-protein moieties can also act as antitumoral agents. The balance between mannoproteins-TLR2 and β-glucans-Dectin-1 receptors-activation is crucial for osteogenesis. Biomedical applications value can also be obtained from yeast microcapsules as oral delivery systems, where highly branched (β1→6)-glucans lead to higher receptor affinity. 30936 - Yeast4FoodMed - Valorização dos polissacarídeos da levedura excedentária cervejeira para aplicações alimentares e biomédicas (PTDC/BAA-AGR/30936/2017) published

Barley is one of the unique cereals having health promoting properties in its grains. There is a renewed interest in food barley in past few years and need is being felt for high yielding hulless genotypes with superior food quality parameters. In this study 19 land races collected from Leh and Ladakh region, four exotic germplasm introductions, breeding lines and six released hulless cultivars were evaluated in 2017-18 for seven grain quality parameters. Promising genotypes for grain beta glucan content and thousand kernel weight have been identified. A positive correlation has been observed between grain beta glucan content and protein content.

The effect of heat treatment on dried fruiting bodies of Reishi medicinal mushroom (Ganoderma lingzhi) is investigated. Control and samples treated for 20 min at temperatures of 70, 120, 150 and 180 °C were subjected for their free radical scavenging capacity, different glucans and total phenolic content determination. The growth rate of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus casei supplemented with control and heat-treated samples is also investigated. The roasted mushroom samples at 150 °C and 180 °C showed the highest level of β-glucan (37.82%) and free radical scavenging capacity on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhidrazyl (DPPH•) and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+). The content of total phenolics (TPC) was also influenced by heat treatment and significantly higher TPC values were recorded in samples treated at 120 °C and 150 °C. The presence of reducing sugars was only detected after heat treatment at 150 °C (0.23%) and at 180 °C (0.57%). The heat treatments at 120, 150 and 180 °C, significantly attenuated the number of colony-forming units (CFU) of pathogenic E. coli, in a linear relationship with an elevated temperature. The supplementation of heat-treated Reishi mushroom at 120 °C resulted in the highest growth rate of probiotic L. casei. The obtained results in this study revealed the significant effect of short-term heat treatment by enhancing the antioxidant capacity, β-glucan solubility and prebiotic property of the dried basidiocarp of Reishi mushroom.

Objective In this pilot clinical study, we report the beneficial effects of beta glucans derived from two strains AFO-202 and N-163 of a black yeast Aureobasidium pullulans on the biomarkers for cytokine storm and coagulopathy in COVID-19 patients. Methods A total of 24 RT-PCR positive COVID-19 patients were recruited and randomly divided into three groups (Gr): Gr. 1 control (n=8) – Standard treatment; Gr. 2: Standard treatment + AFO-202 beta glucan (n=8); and Gr. 3, Standard treatment + combination of AFO-202 and N-163 beta glucans (n=8) for 30 days. Results There was no mortality or requirement of ventilation of the subjects in any of the groups. There was a decrease in D-Dimer values (751 ng/ml to 143.89 ng/ml) and IL-6 values (7.395 pg/ml to 3.16 pg/ml) in Gr. 1 in 15 days but the levels increased to abnormal levels on day 30 (D-Dimer: 202.5 ng/ml; IL-6 55.37 pg/ml); which steadily decreased up to day 30 in groups 2 (D-dimer: 560.99 ng/dl to 79.615; IL-6: 26.18 pg/ml to 3.41 pg/ml) and 3 (D-dimer: 1614 ng/dl to 164.25 ng/dl; IL-6: 6.25 pg/ml to 0.5 pg/ml). The same trend was observed with ESR. LCR and LeCR increased while NLR decreased significantly in Gr. 3. CD4+ and CD8+ T cell count showed relatively higher increase in Gr.3. There was no difference in CRP within the groups. Conclusion As these beta glucans are well known food supplements with a track record for safety, larger multi-centric clinical studies are recommended to validate their use as an adjunct in the management of COVID-19 and the ensuing long COVID-19 syndrome., Graphical Abstract

BackgroundImbalances in glucose and lipid metabolism in the background of a declining immune system, along with aging, make one prone to glucolipotoxicity-related diseases such as hepatic steatosis and to high risk of infection-related mortality, as with COVID-19, warranting a safe prophylactic measure to help regulate both metabolism and the immune system. Based on the beneficial effects of the AFO-202 strain of black yeast Aureobasidium pullulans-produced beta 1,3-1,6 glucan in balancing of blood glucose and immune enhancement, and that of the N-163 strain of the same species in lipid metabolism and immune modulation, in this pilot study, we have evaluated their specific benefits in healthy human subjects.MethodsSixteen healthy Japanese male volunteers (aged 40 to 60 years) took part in this clinical trial. They were divided into four groups (n = 4 each): Group I consumed AFO-202 beta glucan (2 sachets of 1 g each per day), IA for 35 days and IB for 21 days; Group II consumed a combination of AFO-202 beta glucan (2 sachets of 1 g each) and N-163 beta glucan (1 sachet of 15 g gel each per day), IIA for 35 days and IIB for 21 days. Investigations for immune stimulation, anti-glycaemic, and anti-cholesterolemia biomarkers were undertaken in all four groups.ResultsIn terms of metabolic control of glucose, the decrease in HbA1C and glycated albumin (GA) was significantly better in Group I compared with the other groups. Immune enhancement in terms of a significant increase of eosinophils and monocytes and marginal decrease in D-dimer levels, decrease in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), with an increase in the lymphocyte-to-CRP ratio (LCR) and leukocyte-to-CRP ratio (LeCR) was observed in Group I. Regulation of lipids by decrease in total and LDL cholesterol was better in Group II, and immunomodulation of coagulation-associated and anti-inflammatory markers by a decrease of CD11b, serum ferritin, galectin-3, fibrinogen was profound in Group II.ConclusionA. pullulans, a polythermotolerant black yeast - produced AFO-202 beta glucan has balanced blood glucose with marginal immune enhancement in healthy individuals, which when combined with N-163 beta glucan, balanced the lipid profile and immunomodulation. This outcome warrants larger clinical trials to understand the mechanisms and explore the potentials of these safe food supplements in prevention and prophylaxis of diseases due to dysregulated glucose and lipid metabolism, such as fatty liver disease, and infections such as COVID-19 in which a balanced immune activation and immunomodulation are of utmost importance, besides their administration as an adjunct to existing therapeutic approaches of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

The interaction of positively charged polymers (polycations) with a biological membrane is considered to be the cause of the frequently observed toxicity of these macromolecules. If it is possible to obtain polymers with a predominantly negative effect on bacterial and fungal cells, such systems would have great potential in the treatment of infectious diseases, especially now when reports indicate the growing risk of fungal co-infections in COVID-19 patients. We describe in this article cationic derivatives of natural beta-glucan polymers obtained by reacting the polysaccharide isolated from Saccharomyces boulardii (SB) and Cetraria islandica (CI) with glycidyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (GTMAC). Two synthesis strategies were applied to optimize the product yield. Fungal diseases particularly affect low-income countries, hence the emphasis on the simplicity of the synthesis of such drugs so they can be produced without outside help. The three structures obtained showed selective anti-mycotic properties (against, i.e., Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Aspergillus brasiliensis, and Fusarium solani), and their toxicity established using fibroblast 3T3-L1 cell line was negligible in a wide range of concentrations. For one of the polymers (SB derivative), using in vivo model of Aspergillus brasiliensis infection in Galleria mellonella insect model, we confirmed the promising results obtained in the preliminary study.

Sorghum biscuits were enriched with mushroom powders (Lentinula edodes, Auricularia auricula and Tremella fuciformis) at 5%, 10% and 15% substitution levels. An in vitro gastrointestinal digestion was used to evaluate the effect of this enrichment on the phenolic content and soluble peptide content as well as antioxidant activities of the gastric or intestinal supernatants (bio-accessible fractions), and the remaining portions of phenolic compounds, antioxidants and β-glucan in the undigested residue (non-digestible fraction). The phenolic content of the gastric and intestinal supernatants obtained from digested mushroom-enriched biscuits was found to be higher than that of control biscuit, and the phenolic content was positively correlated to the antioxidant activities in each fraction (p &lt, 0.001). L. edodes and T. fuciformis enrichment increased the soluble protein content (small peptide) of sorghum biscuits after in vitro digestion. All mushroom enrichment increased the total phenolic content and β-glucan content of the undigested residue and they were positively correlated (p &lt, 0.001). The insoluble dietary fibre of biscuits was positively correlated with β-glucan content (p &lt, 0.001) of undigested residue. These findings suggested that enriching food with mushroom derived dietary fibre increases the bioavailability of the non-digestible β-glucan and phenolic compounds.

Multifunctional biomass is able to provide more than one valuable product, and thus, it is attractive in the field of microbial biotechnology due to its economic feasibility. Carotenogenic yeasts are effective microbial factories for the biosynthesis of a broad spectrum of biomolecules that can be used in the food and feed industry and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as a source of biofuels. In the study, we examined the effect of different nitrogen sources, carbon sources and CN ratios on the co-production of intracellular lipids, carotenoids, beta-glucans and extracellular glycolipids. Yeast strain R. kratochvilovae CCY 20-2-26 was identified as the best co-producer of lipids (66.7 +/- 1.5% of DCW), exoglycolipids (2.42 +/- 0.08 g/L), beta-glucan (11.33 +/- 1.34% of DCW) and carotenoids (1.35 +/- 0.11 mg/g), with a biomass content of 15.2 +/- 0.8 g/L, by using the synthetic medium with potassium nitrate and mannose as a carbon source. It was shown that an increased C/N ratio positively affected the biomass yield and production of lipids and beta-glucans.

Purpose The enrichment of bread with non-digestible prebiotic ingredients may exert health-promoting effects and provide healthier food choices for those suffering from metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ß-glucan and resistant starch incorporation on the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) of white bread. Design/methodology/approach Seven different formulations of prebiotic bread were produced using different proportions of ß-glucan (0.8, 1 and 1.2 per cent), resistant starch (5.5, 8 and 10.5 per cent) and the combination of resistant starch and ß-glucan in a ratio of 4:0.5. Findings The GI and GL of the prebiotic bread prepared with 1 per cent ß-glucan (w/w) were 55.7 and 7.8, respectively, whereas those of the prebiotic bread prepared with 8 per cent resistant starch (w/w) were 64.8 and 8.42, respectively, with both breads having significantly lower GI and GL values than the control (P < 0.05). It was concluded that the incorporation of 1 per cent ß-glucan may be beneficial in producing prebiotic bread with both low GI and low GL. Originality/value Although white bread is a main food source in human diet, its high GI and GL make it an unhealthy food choice. The incorporation of ingredients with prebiotic effects, such as ß-glucan and resistant starch, can improve the nutritional value of this product by lowering its GI and GL.

Purpose This paper aims to study the impact of combination Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Heriz I and Beta glucan on quality of life (QOL) in breast cancer (BC) patients receiving chemotherapy. Design/methodology/approach In all, 30 women with BC were enrolled in this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Intervention group received either daily one capsule of L. rhamnosus strain Heriz I (2 × 107 CFU) and two 10-mg capsules of soluble1–3,1–6,D-beta glucan and the placebo group receiving placebo, interval between two courses of chemotherapy. Health-related QOL was evaluated at baseline and end of the trial using the EORTC QOL Questionnaire version.3.0 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Findings The results showed that combination of L. rhamnosus Heriz I and Beta glucan supplementation in BC patients during chemotherapy improved functional scales score from 37.3 ± 12.1 to 39.8 ± 6.8 and this increase in comparison with placebo was significant after adjusting baseline value (p = 0.015). Changes in symptoms scores were not significant after intervention (p = 0.05) but the decreased score (66.1 ± 12.9 to 60.6 ± 9.4) was considerable clinically. As well as, changes in global health status/QOL score in intervention group in comparison with the placebo group was not significant (p = 0.93). Originality/value The findings suggest that combination of L. rhamnosus Heriz I and Beta glucan may be associated for improving functional scales and symptoms in patients with BC who underwent chemotherapy. To prove positive effect of supplements on other aspects of QOL, further studies are needed.

Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stresses which can negatively affect the plant metabolic processes in the world. This can impact the plant production, either for economic or sustenance benefits. The salinity stress can cause many physiological and biochemical changes in the plants. β-glucans are important polysaccharides, which are present in the cell walls of various cereal grains. They protect the plant responses and occur in plant suspensions. In this study, the researchers attempted to investigate various physiological mechanisms and determine the role of the β-glucans in the NaCl-mediated stress conditions on the Ocimum basilicum L. seedlings. For this purpose, they carried out an experiment for assessing various shoot and root parameters along with the antioxidant enzyme activities, proline levels and the ISSR markers. When the seedlings were exposed to the NaCl stress conditions, they showed a significant decrease in the growth parameters and an increase in the antioxidant and proline levels compared to the control seedlings grown under normal saline conditions. On the other hand, the β-glucan-treated seeds, when grown under the saline stress conditions, showed better growth parameters as well as high antioxidant enzyme activities and proline levels, compared to the control and NaCl-treated plants. Furthermore, a PCR analysis was carried out using the ISSR-marker technology, which could help in evaluating the DNA fingerprints and genetic variations in the plants. The results indicated that the exogenous application of the β-glucans could protect the antioxidant enzyme activities and protect the plants against the salinity stresses, without affecting the genetic variations and could be a better choice for use in DNA-markers.

The study of metabolomics in natural products using the diverse analytical instruments including GC-MS, LC-MS, and NMR is useful for the exploration of physiological and biological effects and the investigation of drug discovery and health functional foods. Cordyceps militaris has been very attractive to natural medicine as a traditional Chinese medicine, due to its various bioactive properties including anti-cancer and anti-oxidant effects. In this study, we analyzed the metabolite profile in 50% ethanol extracts of C. militaris fruit bodies from three development periods (growth period, matured period, and aging period) using 1H-NMR, and identified 44 metabolites, which are classified as 16 amino acids, 10 organic acids, 5 carbohydrates, 3 nucleotide derivatives, and 10 other compounds. Among the three development periods of the C. militaris fruit body, the aging period showed significantly higher levels of metabolites including cordycepin, mannitol (cordycepic acid), and β-glucan. Interestingly, these bioactive metabolites are positively correlated with antitumor growth effect; the extract of the aging period showed significant inhibition of HepG2 hepatic cancer cell proliferation. These results showed that the aging period during the development of C. militaris fruit bodies was more highly enriched with bioactive metabolites that are associated with cancer cell growth inhibition.

Material disintegration is the primary step in β-glucan determination in cereal grains. This study investigated the effect of disintegration approach on β-glucan content, determined by an enzymatic method in mature kernels of barley and oat. Milling with a coffee grinder was found to be relevant only for pre-disintegration and homogenization of the grain (4.6% and 3.2% β-glucan content was found in barley and oats, respectively). Ball milling appeared to be the most efficient approach for reducing material particle size, but resulted in samples with underestimated β-glucan content (4.6% and 3.3% in barley and oats, respectively). Grinding with mortar and pestle in liquid nitrogen and repeated centrifugal milling were found to be the optimal disintegration methods for barley kernels (5.2% and 4.7–4.8% β-glucan content, respectively). Grinding with mortar and pestle (either in dry state or in liquid nitrogen) and single centrifugal milling were the optimal disintegration methods for oat kernels (3.6–3.9% and 3.3–3.4% β-glucan content, respectively).

1. Two experiments were conducted to assess the nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn; Exp. 1; 288 Ross 308 male broilers at d 14; 36 cages with eight birds each) and coefficient of standardised ileal digestibility (CSID) of amino acids (AA; Exp. 2; 336 Ross 308 male broilers at d 21; 42 cages with eight birds each) of two barley cultivars for broilers in comparison to wheat, without or with a multi-component non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) degrading enzyme. A 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used in both experiments with three types of grains (normal starch hulled barley [NSH], waxy starch hull-less barley [WSHL], and wheat) and two levels of enzyme supplementation (0 and 200 g/tonne of feed). Enzyme supplemented diets contained 406 and 128 of endo-1, 4-β-xylanase and endo-1, 3 (4)-β-glucanase units per kg of feed, respectively. 2. Analysis showed that the starch content was higher in NSH (610 g/kg) than in wheat (537 g/kg) and WSHL (554 g/kg), and the composition of starch differed markedly among the grain types. The β-glucan content was considerably higher in WSHL (68.6 g/kg) compared to NSH (38.5 g/kg) and wheat (7.74 g/kg). The contribution of soluble fraction to the total non-starch polysaccharides was higher in WSHL (38.2%) compared to NSH and wheat (17.1% and 13.3%, respectively). 3. A significant (P < 0.01) interaction was observed between the grain type and enzyme supplementation for AMEn. The WSHL, with the highest content of β-glucan, showed the greatest response to enzyme supplementation for AMEn. 4. Birds fed wheat- and WSHL-based diets had the highest and lowest CSID of nitrogen and most of AA, respectively, with NSH diets being intermediate. Regardless of grain type, enzyme supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the CSID of nitrogen. 5. These data suggest that β-glucan content plays an important role in determining the digestibility of nutrients in barley for broilers, resulting in a better feeding value for NSH over WSHL. Supplementation of a multi-component NSP-degrading enzyme can improve the feeding value of barley in broiler diets by increasing the digestibility with the effect being more pronounced in WSHL barley.

Mannose polymers are important non-starch polysaccharides in beers. In this study, thirty-six beer samples representing three categories based on materials, including all barley malt beer, barley malt with adjuncts beer and wheat beer, were selected to investigate the content as well as its correlation with beer physicochemical indices, degree of polymerization, molecular weight and existent form of mannose polymers. The results suggested that mannose polymers level was significantly high in the wheat beer (156.76 mg/L and 456.50 mg/L calculated as mannan and glucomannan, respectively). Degree of polymerization was 23–47 and 46–162 calculated as mannan and glucomannan, and the molecular weight was 3,744 - 7,632 Da and 7,470 - 26,262 Da, respectively. Average ratio of glucose to mannose in glucomannan was between 1.79 and 1.93 without significant difference among three groups. Mannose polymers possibly exist in mannan, glucomannan or both. The content had significantly positive correlation with the original extract and viscosity of beers. Their correlation coefficients indicated more important influence on beer viscosity than β-glucan. This preliminary study would be helpful for revealing the structure of mannose polymers and its effect on beer brewing as well as human health.

The food industry has a considerable demand for functional foods, such as emulsions as delivery system for omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Such delivery systems must be stabilized, ideally with a compound that fulfills the criteria for both functionality and sustainability. Spruce galactoglucomannans (GGM) are novel, wood-derived, natural, value-added, versatile, multi-purpose emulsifiers that can physically stabilize oil-in-water emulsions while simultaneously protecting the oil phase against oxidation. In this study, we present for the first time the use of GGM-stabilized emulsions as complex multicomponent delivery systems for omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, i.e., (1) cod liver oil in drinkable yogurt and (2) oat oil in a gluten-free vegan beverage. The emulsions and the resulting functionalized beverages were characterized in terms of their physical stabilities. In addition, functionalized, drinkable yogurt was characterized in terms of the oxidative stability of the oil. Results highlighted that oil droplets stabilized with GGM were stable during storage, against thermal treatment, upon addition into the beverages, and GGM protected cod liver oil against oxidation in drinkable yogurt. The results reported here highlight the vast potential for the use of wood lignocellulose-derived, multi-functional hydrocolloids in modern foods.

This study aimed to assess the effect of encapsulating humic acid inside yeast cell walls (YCW) to detoxify AFB1 in in vitro gastrointestinal models. Glucan Mannan Lipid Particles (GMLPs) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell walls showed the highest AFB1 adsorption in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) after 10 min, and in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) after 1 h. GMLPs are hollow 3–4 micron porous microspheres that provide an efficient system for the synthesis and encapsulation of AFB1-absorbing nanoparticles (NPs). Humic acid nanoparticles (HA-NPs) were synthesized within the GMLP cavity by complexation with ferric chloride. Encapsulating HA-NPs in GMLPs increased HA-NP stability in SIF. The hybrid GMLP HA-NP formulation synergistically enhanced AFB1 binding compared to individual GMLP and HA components in SGF and in SIF. Cytotoxicity on a murine macrophage cell line demonstrated that GMLP HA-NP-AFB1 complexes were stable in both SGF and SIF, detoxified AFB1 and are suitable for in vivo testing.

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury has been one of the culprits of tissue injury and flap loss after island flap transpositions. Thus, significant research has been undertaken to study how to prevent or decrease the spread of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Preventive effects of beta-glucan on ischemia-reperfusion injury in the kidney, lung, and small intestine have previously been reported. In this study, we present the ameliorating effects of beta-glucan on ischemia-reperfusion injury using the epigastric artery island-flap in rats. Materials and methods: Thirty Wistar-Albino rats were equally divided into three groups: sham, experimental model, and treatment groups. In the sham group, an island flap was elevated and sutured back to the original position without any ischemia. In the experimental model group, the same-sized flap was elevated and sutured back with 8h of ischemia and consequent 12h of reperfusion. In the treatment group, 50 mg per kilogram beta-glucanwas administered to the rats using an orogastric tube for 10 d before the experiment. The same-sized flap is elevated and sutured back to its original position with 8 h of ischemia and 12 h of consequent reperfusion in the treatment group. Tissue biopsies were taken on the first day of the experimental surgery. Tissue neutrophil aggregation and vascular responses were evaluated by histological examinations. Tissue oxidant and antioxidant enzyme levels are evaluated biochemically after tissue homogenization. Topographic follow-up and evaluation of the flaps were maintained, and photographs were taken on the first and seventh day of the experimental surgery. Results: Topographic flap survival was significantly better in the beta-glucan administered group. The neutrophil number, malondialdehyde, and myeloperoxidase levels were significantly lower while glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels were significantly higher in the beta-glucan administered group respective to the experimental model group. Conclusions: Based on the results of our study, we can conclude that beta-glucan is protective against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Our study presents the first experimental evidence of such an effect on skin island flaps. Erciyes University

β- d -glucan is a major type of bioactive polysaccharide commonly found in edible fungi, especially Lentinus, Cordyceps, and Ganoderma, which are among the most popular and treasured edible and medicinal fungi since ancient times in China. The β-glucans isolated from Lentinus, Cordyceps, and Ganoderma were a kind of homopolysaccharide with backbones of β-(1 → 3)-linked, β-(1 → 6)-linked, and/or β-(1 → 4)-linked d -glucan, and the branching point located at O-6, O-3, or O-4 position. Among them, a characteristic structure of linear β-(1 → 3)- d -glucan with (1 → 6)-β- d -Glcp side chains is frequently reported. For example, lentinan from Lentinus edodes (yield 5%, w/w) has been applied in adjuvant therapy for cancer diseases through the enhancement of immune system. In particular, β-(1 → 3)-glucan with triple helical chain conformation was most effective. Other kinds of chemical structures, including β-(1 → 6)- d -glucan, β-(1 → 4)- d -glucan, as well as a mixed β-(1 → 3)(1 → 4)(1 → 6)-backboned d -glucan, were also reported. This chapter aims to summarize the advances in research of β-glucans derived from Lentinus, Cordyceps, and Ganoderma species, focusing on their isolation methods, purification processes, detailed structures, and chain conformation. Besides, a range of functional activities are comprehensively reviewed, including immunomodulatory, antitumor, anticancer, antivirus, antioxidant activities, etc. Potential for further developments and applications is also briefly discussed.

Highlights • Cel8Pa is an extracellular, halotolerant, broad substrate endoglucanase. • Bg1Pa is an intracellular β-glucosidase, with activity on cello oligosaccharides and high resistance to ethanol. • The concerted action of Cel8Pa and Bg1Pa has a synergistic effect on saccharification of β-glucans. • Cel8Pa and Bg1Pa are cold-stable and candidates for SSF ethanol 2 G processes., In the efficient bioconversion of polysaccharides from lignocellulosic biomass, endoglucanases and β-glucosidases are key enzymes for the deconstruction of β-glucans. In this work, we focused on a GH8 endoglucanase (Cel8Pa) and a GH1 β-glucosidase (Bg1Pa) from Paenibacillus xylanivorans A59. Cel8Pa was active on a broad range of substrates, such as β-glucan from barley (24.5 IU/mg), lichenan (17.9 IU/mg), phosphoric acid swollen cellulose (PASC) (9.7 IU/mg), carboxi-methylcellulose (CMC) (7.3 IU/mg), chitosan (1.4 IU/mg) and xylan (0.4 IU/mg). Bg1Pa was active on cellobiose (C2) and cello-oligosaccharides up to C6, releasing glucose as the main product. When both enzymes were used jointly, there was a synergic effect in the conversion rate of polysaccharides to glucose. Cel8Pa and Bg1Pa presented important properties for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) processes in second generation bioethanol production, such as tolerance to high concentration of glucose and ethanol.

The present study was designed to characterize oat bran for their biological attributes. The results showed that bran of Avon variety contained high TDF, SDF, β-glucan and extractability of β-glucan than bran of oat variety Sargodha-81. The extrusion process exhibited the highest extractability of β-glucan (45.37%) followed by cooking (37.28%) and baking methods (32.45%). Moreover, the glucose level reduction was found significantly different when raw and processed oat bran diets fed to normal, hypercholesterolemic and diabetic rats. The highest reduction was recorded when fed on diet containing 30% processed oat bran. The processed oat bran exhibited more reduction as compared to raw oat bran. Furthermore, addition of 20% oat bran in wheat grits porridge was found to have significant effect (p < 0.05) on appearance, mouth feel and overall acceptability. Convincingly, it is recommended that processed oat bran may be introduced in diet-based remedy to rheostat lifestyle-related disorders.

Natural compound extracted from microorganism is one of the important compound used for treatmentmany diseases in the world ? -glucan is one of these compound that extracted from yeast Saccharomycescerevisiae by acid alkaline method used by Biron. The glucan was analyzed by FTIR ,HPLC, molecularweight was determined and antioxidant effect of ? -glucan was tested . The result showed high compatibilitybetween the sample of glucan and the standard by FTIR, ? -glucan showed high purity of extraction ascompared with standard of glucan by using HPLC.

Whole-transcriptome analysis was used to investigate the molecular interplay between three bacterial species that are members of the human gut microbiota. Bacteroides ovatus, Subdoligranulum variabile, and Hungatella hathewayi formed associations in cocultures fed barley β-glucan, a constituent of dietary fiber. B. ovatus depolymerized β-glucan and released, but did not utilize, 3-O-β-cellobiosyl-d-glucose (DP3) and 3-O-β-cellotriosyl-d-glucose (DP4). These oligosaccharides provided growth substrates for S. variabile and H. hathewayi with a preference for DP4 in the case of the latter species. There was increased transcription of a B. ovatus mixed-linkage-β-glucan utilization locus, as well as carbohydrate transporters in S. variabile and H. hathewayi when in batch coculture. Increased transcription of the β-glucan utilization locus did not occur in continuous culture. Evidence for interactions relating to provision of cobalamin, alterations to signaling, and modulation of the “stringent response” (an adaptation to nutrient deprivation) were detected. Overall, we established a bacterial consortium based on barley β-glucan in vitro, which can be used to investigate aspects of the functional blueprint of the human gut microbiota. IMPORTANCE The microbial community, mostly composed of bacterial species, residing in the human gut degrades and ferments polysaccharides derived from plants (dietary fiber) that would not otherwise be digested. In this way, the collective metabolic actions of community members extract additional energy from the human diet. While the variety of bacteria present in the microbial community is well known, the formation of bacterial consortia, and the consequent interactions that result in the digestion of dietary polysaccharides, has not been studied extensively. The importance of our work was the establishment, under laboratory conditions, of a consortium of gut bacteria that formed around a dietary constituent commonly present in cereals. This enabled the metabolic interplay between the bacterial species to be studied. This kind of knowledge is required to construct an interactive, metabolic blueprint of the microbial community that inhabits the human gut.

Coriolus versicolor is an edible medicinal mushroom in China. Two polysaccharides, named as CVPn and CVPa were separated from the dried fruiting bodies of Coriolus versicolor by water extraction and ethanol precipitation. Their chemical structures were well elucidated with overall consideration of monosaccharide composition, methylation analysis and 1D/2D-NMR spectra data. The bioactivities on RAW 264.7 macrophages cells were evaluated, and further structure-bioactivity relationships were concluded. With molecular weight of 29.7 kDa for CVPn and 50.8 kDa for CVPa, the two isolated polysaccharides were both composed of (l → 4)-β-/(1 → 3)-β-d-glucopyranosyl group as backbone with branches attached at O-6 site. Comparing to CVPn, CVPa with relative high molecular weight and less branches showed significant induction of NO production, obvious augmentation of iNOS and TNF-α mRNA expression level, and phagocytosis on RAW 264.7 cells. These results clarified that CVP polysaccharides with less branches and high molecular weight possessed enhanced immunomodulatory ability, and this finding could be a reference for the utilization of Coriolus versicolor.

Aspergillus tamarii grows abundantly in naturally composting waste fibers of the textile industry and has a great potential in biomass decomposition. Amongst the key (hemi)cellulose-active enzymes in the secretomes of biomass-degrading fungi are the lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs). By catalyzing oxidative cleavage of glycoside bonds, LPMOs promote the activity of other lignocellulose-degrading enzymes. Here, we analyzed the catalytic potential of two of the seven AA9-type LPMOs that were detected in recently published transcriptome data for A. tamarii, namely AtAA9A and AtAA9B. Analysis of products generated from cellulose revealed that AtAA9A is a C4-oxidizing enzyme, whereas AtAA9B yielded a mixture of C1- and C4-oxidized products. AtAA9A was also active on cellopentaose and cellohexaose. Both enzymes also cleaved the β-(1→4)-glucan backbone of tamarind xyloglucan, but with different cleavage patterns. AtAA9A cleaved the xyloglucan backbone only next to unsubstituted glucosyl units, whereas AtAA9B yielded product profiles indicating that it can cleave the xyloglucan backbone irrespective of substitutions. Building on these new results and on the expanding catalog of xyloglucan- and oligosaccharide-active AA9 LPMOs, we discuss possible structural properties that could underlie the observed functional differences. The results corroborate evidence that filamentous fungi have evolved AA9 LPMOs with distinct substrate specificities and regioselectivities, which likely have complementary functions during biomass degradation.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the role of β-glucan molecular weight (Mw) and the presence of other carbohydrates on the physiological functionality of oat bran via an in vitro digestion study. A complete approach using three different in vitro digestion models (viscosity of the small intestine digest, reduction of bile acids and on-line measurement of gas evolution) was used to predict the physiological functionality of enzymatically modified oat bran concentrate (OBC). OBC was enzymatically treated with two β-glucanase preparations at three different levels in order to specifically decrease β-glucan Mw (Pure: purified β-glucanase) or β-glucan and other cell wall polysaccharides (Mix: commercial food-grade cell wall degrading enzyme preparation). The Mw of β-glucan in OBC was tailored to high (1000 kDa), medium (200-500 kDa) and low (

Pentose-rich hydrolysate obtained from dilute acid pretreatment of oil palm empty fruit bunches was successfully consumed by pentose-consuming yeasts: Cyberlindnera jadinii (Cj) and Pichia jadinii (Pj). Nitrogen supplementation and no additional detoxification step were required. Pj produced 5.87 g/L of biomass using a C/N ratio of 14 after 120 h of fermentation, with xylose consumption of 71%. Cj produced 10.50 g/L of biomass after 96 h of fermentation with C/N ratio of 11.5, with maximum xylose consumption of 85%. β-glucans, high value-added macromolecules, were further extracted from the yeast biomass, achieving yields of 3.1 and 3.0% from Pj and Cj, respectively. The isolated polysaccharides showed a chemical structure of β-(1,3)-glucan with residues of other molecules. Additionally, β-(1,6) branches seems to have been broken during isolation process. Further studies assessing β-glucans production at industrial scale should be carried out looking for nitrogen sources and optimizing the β-glucan isolation method.

Background (1-3)-b-D-glucan (BDG) is a fungal cell wall component and, in the absence of invasive fungal infection, a novel biomarker for microbial translocation of endogenous fungal products from the gastrointestinal tract into systemic circulation. However, its value as a marker of fungal translocation is limited by a concern that plant BDG-rich food influences blood BDG levels. Methods We conducted a pilot clinical trial to evaluate the impact of a standardized oral BDG challenge on blood BDG levels in participants with and without elevated microbial translocation. We enrolled 14 participants including 8 with HIV infection, 2 with advanced liver cirrhosis, and 4 healthy controls. After obtaining a baseline blood sample, participants received a standardized milk shake containing high levels of BDG followed by serial blood samples up to 8 hours after intake. Results The standardized oral BDG challenge approach did not change the blood BDG levels over time in all participants. We found consistently elevated blood BDG levels in one participant with advanced liver cirrhosis and a single person with HIV with a low CD4 count of 201 cells/mm3 . Conclusion Our findings indicate that BDG blood levels were not influenced by plant origin BDG-rich nutrition in PWH, people with advanced liver cirrhosis, or healthy controls. Future studies are needed to analyze gut mycobiota populations in individuals with elevated blood BDG levels.

While the development of oat products often requires altered molecular weight (MW) of β-glucan, the resulting health implications are currently unclear. This 3-leg crossover trial (n = 14) investigated the effects of the consumption of oat bran with High, Medium and Low MW β-glucan (average > 1000, 524 and 82 kDa respectively) with 3 consequent meals on oat-derived phenolic compounds in urine (UHPLC-MS/MS), bile acids in feces (UHPLC-QTOF), gastrointestinal conditions (ingestible capsule), and perceived gut well-being. Urine excretion of ferulic acid was higher (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), and the fecal excretion of deoxycholic (p < 0.03, p < 0.02) and chenodeoxycholic (p < 0.06, p < 0.02) acids lower after consumption of Low MW β-glucan compared with both Medium and High MW β-glucan. Duodenal pressure was higher after consumption of High MW β-glucan compared to Medium (p < 0.041) and Low (p < 0.022) MW β-glucan. The MW of β-glucan did not affect gut well-being, but the perceptions between females and males differed.

The goal of this work was to assess the usability of yeast glucan particles (GPs) as carriers for curcumin and determine the beneficial effect of a pharmacological composite of curcumin in GPs on dextran sulfate sodium induced colitis in rats. The assessment of the anti-inflammatory effect of particular substances was evaluated on the basis of the calculated disease activity index and by assessment of cytokines and enzymes from the gut tissue - tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor β1, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, catalase, superoxide dismutase 2, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and matrix metalloproteinase 9. Composites of GPs with incorporated curcumin showed promising results with the capability to lower symptoms of colitis and significantly decrease the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and the activity of MPO, as well. The anti-inflammatory effect of the composites was greater than those of pure GPs or curcumin.

The outer cell wall of yeast is characterized by high levels of β-glucans and mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), which have been linked with beneficial effects on intestinal health and immune status in dogs. In this study, a standardized in vitro simulation of the canine gastrointestinal tract (Simulator of the Canine Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem; SCIME) was used to evaluate the effect of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae-based product, consisting of 27.5% β-glucans and 22.5% MOS, on the activity (as assessed by measurement of fermentative metabolites) and composition (as assessed by 16S-targeted Illumina sequencing) of canine intestinal microbiota. The S. cerevisiae-based product was tested at three different dosages, i.e., 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/d. A dose-dependent fermentation pattern was observed along the entire length of the colon, as shown by the increased production of the health-related acetate, propionate, and butyrate for the three concentrations tested (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/d). A consistent finding for all three tested concentrations was the increased propionate production (P < 0.05) in the simulated proximal and distal colon. These changes in terms of fermentative metabolites could be linked to specific microbial alterations at the family level, such as the specific stimulation of the propionate-producing families Porphyromonadaceae and Prevotellaceae upon in vitro exposure to the S. cerevisiae-based product. Other consistent changes in community composition upon repeated exposure included the decrease in the Enterobacteriaceae and the Fusobacteriaceae families, which both contain several potentially opportunistic pathogens. Altogether, the generated data support a possible health-promoting role of a product high in β-glucans and MOS when supplemented to the dogs’ diet.

We aimed to design and manufacture a transporter capable of delivering small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into the skin without causing any damage. &beta, glucans are unique chiral polysaccharides with well-defined immunological properties and supramolecular wrapping ability. However, the chiral properties of these polymers have hardly been applied in drug delivery systems. In this study, &beta, glucan nanoparticles were designed and manufactured to deliver genetic material to the target cells. The &beta, glucan molecules were self-assembled with an siRNA into nanoparticles of 300&ndash, 400 nm in diameter via a conformational transition process, in order to construct a gene delivery system. The assembled gene nanocarriers were associated with high gene-loading ability. The expression and efficiency of siRNA were verified after its delivery via &beta, glucan. Our results provide evidence that &beta, glucan nanoparticles can be effectively used to deliver siRNA into the cells.

Stages of the brewing process, such as mash separation to produce wort and beer filtration, can in certain cases prove problematic due to the increased viscosity caused by high levels of the non-starch polysaccharides, primarily β-glucan and arabinoxylan. Of these two polysaccharides, β-glucan has been extensively studied, but arabinoxylan has been somewhat overlooked. The concentration of arabinoxylan present during these process stages is principally expected to be inversely related to the malt endo-1,4-β-xylansase activity that is available to degrade these polysaccharides. The development of a novel method for the measurement of endo-1,4-β-xylansase activity in barley malt extracts is described herein. The method was characterised by two analysts in terms of repeatability (single analyst CVs = 2.2% and 2.3%, n = 8; interanalyst CV = 4.8%, n = 16) and sensitivity (LOD = 10 U/kg, LOQ = 34 U/kg). The assay procedure was then applied to the measurement of xylanase activity in a series of eight standard barley malts and the results obtained were compared with their associated Congress wort viscosities as measured using the conventional EBC Method 4.8, wort viscosity. A highly statistically significant relationship between xylanase activity and wort viscosity was found with a Pearson's correlation coefficient of -0.82 (p-value of 0.007).

A food product matrix and functional additives used to manufacture it are one of the key factors influencing the fermentation processes in the intestine and the bioavailability of minerals. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of acidified and non-acidified milk gels with highly-purified (1-3)-, (1-3)(1-4)-, and (1-3)(1-6)-β-glucan on: gastrointestinal tract parameters, intestinal metabolic activity, and bioavailability of minerals in growing rats. Concentrations of ammonia, short-chain volatile fatty acids as well as bacterial enzyme activity, blood biochemistry, and bioavailability of Ca, Zn, Mn and Fe were significantly affected by β-glucan structure. The availability of minerals was higher upon the use of branched β-glucans. Milk gel acidity significantly influenced body weight gain, activity of faecal bacterial enzymes, blood levels of triglycerides and glucose, and bioavailability of all investigated mineral compounds. The use of branched β-glucans resulted in the most and least intense fermentation processes in the caecum, respectively.

We used a standardized in vitro simulation of the intestinal environment of three human donors to investigate the effect of six oat ingredients, which were produced by the application of different processing techniques, on the gut microbial community. Fructooligosaccharide was used as the positive control. Consistent changes in pH and gas production, on average −0.4 pH units and +32 kPa, indicated the high fermentability of the oat ingredients, and the resulting increased production of metabolites that are considered as beneficial for human health. These metabolites included acetate and lactate, but mostly propionate (+13.6 mM on average). All oat ingredients resulted in increased bifidobacteria levels with an average increase of 0.73 log. Moreover, a decreased production of proteolytic markers was observed, including branched short-chain fatty acids and ammonium. The results were donor-specific and product-specific. The results suggested an association between the total amounts of dietary fiber and the prebiotic potentials of different ingredients. Furthermore, as mechanical processing of oat products has previously been linked to increased extractability of dietary fibers, the obtained results suggest that different processing techniques might have impacted the potential functional properties of the final ingredients.

Brush rabbits were immunized with injections prepared from the fungi Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus repens. A library of synthetic biotinylated oligosaccharides containing the key fragments of antigenic polysaccharides of the fungal cell wall—galctomannan, α- and β-glucans, mannan, and chitin—was used to analyze carbohydrate specificity. The anticarbohydrate antibodies obtained from animals immunized with preparations from A. fumigatus and A. repens predominantly recognized epitopes containing galactofuranoside residues, while the majority of the antibodies against A. niger bound the chitooligosaccharide ligand. These results are the basis for the identification of specific markers required for the development of immunoenzyme test systems.

We analyzed seventy barley accessions from Ecuador to determine the content of mixed-linkage β-glucan in seeds. Twelve of these materials showed a higher content than the population average 2.10% (w/w), and they were chosen to determine the relationship among β-glucan, viscosity and dietary fiber as well as the effect of scarification, cooking, roasting and malting on its content. In the 12 accessions, the content of (3-glucan showed a high degree of correlation (r=0.86) with soluble dietary fiber but a low correlation with viscosity (r=-0.17). In most accessions, β-glucan increased in roasted or scarified grains. The roasting process increased the content by 35.51% (w/w) and scarification by 26.53% (w/w). Cooking decreased content by 39.92% and malting by 77.90%. The megazyme kit was used to determine the content of (1→3) (1→4)- β-D-glucan (Mixed-linkage). Results of this study show that Ecuadorian barley genotypes with a β-glucan content greater than 2.1% are suitable for human consumption and those with a lower value than 2.1% are suitable for the beer industry. RESUMEN Setenta accesiones de cebada provenientes de Ecuador se analizaron para determinar el contenido de β-glucano en semillas. Doce de estos materiales presentaron un contenido superior a la media poblacional 2.10% (w/w) y fueron seleccionados para determinar la relación del β-glucano con la viscosidad y la fibra dietética, así como el efecto de la escarificación, cocción, tostado y malteo en su contenido. En las 12 accesiones el contenido de β-glucano presentó un alto grado de correlación (r=0.86) con la fibra dietética soluble pero baja correlación con la viscosidad (r=-0.17). En la mayoría de accesiones el β-glucano aumentó en los granos tostados o escarificados. El proceso de tostado incrementó el contenido en 35.51% (w/w) y la escarificación en 26.53% (w/w). La cocción disminuyó el contenido en 39.92% y el malteo en 77.90%. Se utilizó el kit megazyme para determinar el contenido de (1→3) (1→4)- β -D-glucano (Mixed-linkage). Resultados de este estudio muestran que los genotipos de cebada ecuatoriana con un contenido de β -glucano mayor a 2.10% son adecuados para la alimentación humana y aquellos con menor valor al indicado son adecuados para la industria cervecera.

The Fungitell assay (FA) and the Wako β-glucan test (GT) are employed to measure the serum/plasma 1,3-β-D-glucan (BDG), a well-known invasive fungal disease biomarker. Data to convincingly and/or sufficiently support the GT as a valuable alternative to the FA are yet limited. In this study, we evaluated the FA and the GT to diagnose invasive aspergillosis (IA), invasive candidiasis (IC), and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP). The FA and GT performances were compared in sera of patients with IA (n = 40), IC (n = 78), and PJP (n = 17) with respect to sera of control patients (n = 187). Using the manufacturer's cutoff values of 80 pg/mL and 11 pg/mL, the sensitivity and specificity for IA diagnosis were 92.5% and 99.5% for the FA and 60.0% and 99.5% for the GT, respectively; for IC diagnosis were 100.0% and 97.3% for the FA and 91.0% and 99.5% for the GT, respectively; for PJP diagnosis were 100.0% and 97.3% for the FA and 88.2% and 99.5% for the GT, respectively. When an optimized cutoff value of 7.0 pg/mL for the GT was used, the sensitivity and specificity were 80.0% and 97.3% for IA diagnosis, 98.7% and 97.3% for IC diagnosis, and 94.1% and 97.3% for PJP diagnosis, respectively. At the 7.0-pg/mL GT cutoff, the agreement between the assays remained and/or became excellent for IA (95.1%), IC (97.3%), and PJP (96.5%), respectively. In conclusion, we show that the GT performed as well as the FA only with a lowered cutoff value for positivity. Further studies are expected to establish the equivalence of the two BDG assays.