Recent advances of cereal β-glucan on immunity with gut microbiota regulation functions and its intelligent gelling application

Abstract

β-glucan from cereals such as wheat, barley, oats and rye are a water-soluble dietary fiber, which are composed of repeating (1→4)-β-bond β-D-glucopyranosyl units and a single (1→3)-β-D-bond separated unit. β-glucan has a series of physicochemical properties (such as viscosity, gelling properties, solubility, etc.), which can be used as a food gel and fat substitute. Its structure endows the healthy functions, including anti-oxidative stress, lowering blood glucose and serum cholesterol, regulating metabolic syndrome and exerting gut immunity via gut microbiota. Due to their unique structural properties and efficacy, cereal β-glucan are not only applied in food substrates in the food industry, but also in food coatings and packaging. This article reviewed the applications of cereal β-glucan in hydrogels, aerogels, intelligent packaging systems and targeted delivery carriers in recent years. Cereal β-glucan in edible film and gel packaging applications are becoming more diversified and intelligent in recent years. Those advances provide a potential solution based on cereal β-glucan as biodegradable substances for immune regulation delivery system and intelligent gelling material in the biomedicine field.

Keywords:

• Cereal β-glucan
• gelling properties
• gut immunity
• intelligent food packaging
• prebiotic effects

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (31601476), Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation (LY21C200005), Natural Science Foundation of Ningbo (2019A610439), Ningbo Public Welfare Science and Technology Projects (202002N3080).