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Alginate is one of the most abundant marine polysaccharides, which can be degraded into alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) by chemical, physical and biological methods. AOS, linear oligosaccharide composed of guluronic acid and mannuronic acid, have a variety of biological activities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory activities, and these biological activities are closely related to their structural diversity. AOS prepared by different degradation methods have different uronic acid compositions, polymerization degrees and special structures. Therefore, exploring the structure-function relationship of AOS will help to fully understand the activity of AOS and improve its application value. In this paper, the reaction mechanisms of the various methods to prepare AOS, the structures of the resulting products, and the structure-function relationship of AOS are reviewed in order to provide a reference for further research and application of AOS.

The effects of the degradation products of fucosylated exopolysaccharide (DFcP) on the infant fecal microflora were evaluated in vitro in this study. The results of single-strain culture showed that DFcP was selectively utilized by Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis ATCC 15697, B. breve ATCC 15700 and Lactobacillus plantarum CGMCC 1.19, and promoted the accumulation of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Compared with 2’-fucosylactose (2’-FL), DFcP was utilized more quickly by the fecal microbiota and led to higher levels of SCFA production (34.57 mmol/L, P < 0.05) during in vitro fermentation. The results of single-molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT) showed that DFcP increased the proportion of Firmicutes in the fecal microbiota, up-regulated the relative abundance of Enterococcus, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which was verified by the results of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In conclusion, DFcP could be rapidly utilized by the infant fecal microbiota, and significantly regulate its structure and promote the accumulation of the beneficial metabolite SCFAs. This study reveals the potential of DFcP as new prebiotics, which provides a theoretical basis for further development of novel fucosylated oligosaccharide resources.

Fucose, fucose-containing oligosaccharides, and fucose-containing polysaccharides have been widely applied in the fields of food and medicine, including applications in Helicobacter pylori eradication and renal function protection. Fucose-containing carbohydrates (FCCs) derived from marine organisms such as seaweed, invertebrates, microalgae, fungi, and bacteria have garnered growing attention due to their diverse bioactivities and potential therapeutic applications. Marine-derived FCCs characterized by high fucose residue content and extensive sulfate substitution, including fucoidan, fucosylated chondroitin sulfate, and fucose-rich microbial exopolysaccharides, have demonstrated significant potential in promoting gastrointestinal health. This review describes the unique structural features of FCCs and summarizes their health benefits, including regulation of gut microbiota, modulation of microbial metabolism, anti-adhesion activities against H. pylori and gut pathogens, protection against inflammatory injuries, and anti-tumor activities. Additionally, this review discusses the structural characteristics that influence the functional properties and the limitations related to the activity research and preparation processes of FCCs, providing a balanced perspective on the application potential and challenges of FCCs with specific structures for the regulation of gastrointestinal health and diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae have great potential as a future source to meet the increasing global demand for foods. Several microalgae are permitted as safety sources in different countries and regions, and processed as commercial products. However, edible safety, economic feasibility, and acceptable taste are the main challenges for microalgal application in the food industry. Overcome such challenges by developing technology accelerates transition of microalgae into sustainable and nutritious diets. In this review, edible safety of Spirulina, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella, Haematococcus pluvialis, Dunaliella salina, Schizochytrium and Nannochloropsis is introduced, and health benefits of microalgae-derived carotenoids, amino acids, and fatty acids are discussed. Technologies of adaptive laboratory evolution, kinetic model, bioreactor design and genetic engineering are proposed to improve the organoleptic traits and economic feasibility of microalgae. Then, current technologies of decoloration and de-fishy are summarized to provide options for processing. Novel technologies of extrusion cooking, delivery systems, and 3D bioprinting are suggested to improve food quality. The production costs, biomass values, and markets of microalgal products are analyzed to reveal the economic feasibility of microalgal production. Finally, challenges and future perspectives are proposed. Social acceptance is the major limitation of microalgae-derived foods, and further efforts are required toward the improvement of processing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]