Abstract
Non-centrifugal sugar (NCS) is the scientific term the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) uses to define a solid product, produced by sugarcane juice evaporation, which is unrefined or minimally refined. NCS is referred to in various names globally, the most significant ones are whole cane sugar, panela (Latin America), jaggery (India) and kokuto (Japan). NCS contains minerals, bioactive compounds, flavonoids and phenolic acids, which have therapeutic potentials from time immemorial. Even though the bioactive property is dependent on the composition, which relies mainly on the agronomic conditions and production process, NCS possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, substituting the consumption of refined sugar with NCS might be helpful in the control of chronic diseases generally connected to oxidative stress and inflammation. Experimental facts from in vitro and in vivo models have proven that NCS plays an essential role in weight management, maintaining insulin sensitivity and preventing neurodegenerative diseases. NCS has also shown hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. This review aims to synopsize the recent literature pertaining to the benefits of NCS in human health. The NCS can be considered a nutraceutical and functional food. However, detailed and regulated studies are important to enhance the beneficial effects in human and animal interventions.
Highlights
Unrefined sugar is generally obtained from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), palm (Borassus flabellifer) and coconut (Cocos nucifera plant.)
With the increasing global attention on healthy products and the impact of diet on lowering the chance of chronic disorders, unrefined sugar has presently captured the interest of health-conscious consumers, and opportunities to provide sugar to growing healthy food markets have skyrocketed [32,82]
Immense experimental facts suggest that Non-centrifugal sugar (NCS) might benefit human health, including hypoglycemic effects, improving insulin sensitivity, weight management, hypolipidemic effects, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress and protecting from neurodegenerative disease
Summary
Unrefined sugar is generally obtained from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), palm (Borassus flabellifer) and coconut (Cocos nucifera plant.). Non-centrifugal sugar (NCS) is the technical term used by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) [2] for a traditional minimally processed sweetener from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.). Six steps are involved in manufacturing traditional NCS: (1) cutting sugarcane;. Sucrose is the essential component in NCS, followed by reducing sugar, water, and insoluble matter, such as fat, proteins, and minerals [6]. Nutritional components, bioactive and the sensory profile of NCS largely depends on the agronomic factors (genotypes of cane, soil types, fertilization, and harvest) and industrial processing conditions. The NCS quality depends on the traditional systems of harvest, transformation and final product in each producing area and nation [19].
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