Agro waste derived pectin poly and oligosaccharides: Synthesis and functional characterization

Abstract

Humans consume majorly the plants derived carbohydrates in their diet. The major component of plant material comprises of complex polysaccharides rich in arabinan, arabinogalactan, rhamnogalactan and polygalacturonic acid. Dietary fibers are resistant to human digestive enzymes and are exclusively fermented by the beneficial bacteria present in the intestine, termed as microbial accessible carbohydrates (MAC). The beneficial bacteria utilize the MAC to produce antimicrobial substances and short chain fatty acids to maintain the complex microbial diversity of gut and fight against pathogenic bacteria in the intestine. Currently, available prebiotics in the market are limited and some of them are digested in the proximal part of intestine. As a result, the demand for new prebiotic ingredients with improved functional properties is increasing tremendously. Pectin and pectic oligosaccharides (POS) are resistance to human digestive enzymes and are fermented by bacteria in the intestine and subsequently enhance the gut health. The present review describes about the various production, purification and functional characterization of pectin and pectin derived oligosaccharides from agro waste. Various current and futuristic functional properties of pectin and POS has been explained. This study will help the food processing industry to develop several plants derived futuristic functional food products. • Production and purification of pectin and POS from different agro waste is reviewed. • Current application of pectin in food, and anti-cancer agent is discussed. • Role of pectin as nanocomposite for various biomedical application is reviewed. • Anti-microbial and prebiotic properties of pectin and POS is described.