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relieving property (Chen 2014). Schizophyllan, a β-glucan reduces inflammation,
irritation and other damage due to UV and toxic environment exposure of the skin
(Kumari et al. 2008). The skin health promotion effects of natural β-glucan obtained
from cereals and microorganisms has also discussed (Du et al. 2014).
β-1, 6-branched-β-1, 3-glucan obtained from liquid mycelia culture of S. commune have shown that it can defer skin aging, impart skin whitening effect and
effectively cure skin damage (Park et al. 2001). Ketkeaw et al. (2012) found that a
β-glucan from Hevea latex improved production of fibroblast collagen as compared
to control. The authors concluded that Hevea β-glucan has possible application for
treatment of collagen loss in aging skin.
Conclusion
β-glucans are a group of dietary fibers or polysaccharides derived from natural
sources with proven pharmacological applications. The bioavailability of β-glucan
is very low as it has low solubility in aqueous solutions. In order to improve its solubility, several derivation procedures including sulfonylation, carboxymethylation,
phosphorylation and acetylation have been applied that in turn can alter their biological activities such as antioxidation and anticoagulation. Owing to its antioxidant, anti-hypercholesterolemic, immuno-modulatory, hypoglyceamic and
anti-cancerous properties, β-glucan could offer tremendous applications in food,
medical and cosmetic sectors.
References
Ahluwalia, B., & Ellis, E. E. (1984). A rapid and simple method of determination of starch and
β-glucan in barley and malt. Journal of the Institute of Brewing, 90, 254–259.
Ahmad, A., & Anjum, F. M. (2010). Perspective of β-Glucan: Extraction and Utilization.
Saarbrücken, Germany: VDM Publishers.
Ahmad, A., Anjum, F. M., Zahoor, T., Nawaz, H., & Ahmed, Z. (2010). Extraction and characterization of β-d-glucan from oat for industrial utilization. International Journal of Biological
Macromolecules, 46(3), 304–309.
Ahmad, N. H., Mustafa, S., & Che Man, Y. B. (2015). Microbial polysaccharides and their modification approaches: A review. International Journal of Food Properties, 18, 332–347.
Ajithkumar, A., Andersson, R., Siika-Aho, M., Tenkanen, M., & Aman, P. (2006). Isolation of
cellotriosyl blocks from barley β-glucan with endo-1,4-β-glucanase from Trichoderma reesei.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 64(2), 233–238.
Álvarez, D., & Barbut, S. (2013). Effect of inulin, β-glucan and their mixtures on emulsion stability, color and textural parameters of cooked meat batters. Meat Science, 94(3), 320–327.
Amini Sarteshnizi, R., Hosseini, H., Bondarianzadeh, D., Colmenero, F. J., & Khaksar, R. (2015).
Optimization of prebiotic sausage formulation: Effect of using β-glucan and resistant starch
by D-optimal mixture design approach. LWT - Food Science and Technology, 62(1, Part 2),
704–710.
N. Jan et al.
relieving property (Chen 2014). Schizophyllan, a β-glucan reduces inflammation,
irritation and other damage due to UV and toxic environment exposure of the skin
(Kumari et al. 2008). The skin health promotion effects of natural β-glucan obtained
from cereals and microorganisms has also discussed (Du et al. 2014).
β-1, 6-branched-β-1, 3-glucan obtained from liquid mycelia culture of S. commune have shown that it can defer skin aging, impart skin whitening effect and
effectively cure skin damage (Park et al. 2001). Ketkeaw et al. (2012) found that a
β-glucan from Hevea latex improved production of fibroblast collagen as compared
to control. The authors concluded that Hevea β-glucan has possible application for
treatment of collagen loss in aging skin.
Conclusion
β-glucans are a group of dietary fibers or polysaccharides derived from natural
sources with proven pharmacological applications. The bioavailability of β-glucan
is very low as it has low solubility in aqueous solutions. In order to improve its solubility, several derivation procedures including sulfonylation, carboxymethylation,
phosphorylation and acetylation have been applied that in turn can alter their biological activities such as antioxidation and anticoagulation. Owing to its antioxidant, anti-hypercholesterolemic, immuno-modulatory, hypoglyceamic and
anti-cancerous properties, β-glucan could offer tremendous applications in food,
medical and cosmetic sectors.
References
Ahluwalia, B., & Ellis, E. E. (1984). A rapid and simple method of determination of starch and
β-glucan in barley and malt. Journal of the Institute of Brewing, 90, 254–259.
Ahmad, A., & Anjum, F. M. (2010). Perspective of β-Glucan: Extraction and Utilization.
Saarbrücken, Germany: VDM Publishers.
Ahmad, A., Anjum, F. M., Zahoor, T., Nawaz, H., & Ahmed, Z. (2010). Extraction and characterization of β-d-glucan from oat for industrial utilization. International Journal of Biological
Macromolecules, 46(3), 304–309.
Ahmad, N. H., Mustafa, S., & Che Man, Y. B. (2015). Microbial polysaccharides and their modification approaches: A review. International Journal of Food Properties, 18, 332–347.
Ajithkumar, A., Andersson, R., Siika-Aho, M., Tenkanen, M., & Aman, P. (2006). Isolation of
cellotriosyl blocks from barley β-glucan with endo-1,4-β-glucanase from Trichoderma reesei.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 64(2), 233–238.
Álvarez, D., & Barbut, S. (2013). Effect of inulin, β-glucan and their mixtures on emulsion stability, color and textural parameters of cooked meat batters. Meat Science, 94(3), 320–327.
Amini Sarteshnizi, R., Hosseini, H., Bondarianzadeh, D., Colmenero, F. J., & Khaksar, R. (2015).
Optimization of prebiotic sausage formulation: Effect of using β-glucan and resistant starch
by D-optimal mixture design approach. LWT - Food Science and Technology, 62(1, Part 2),
704–710.
N. Jan et al.