Abstract
Hazelnuts are one of the most widely consumed nuts, but their production creates large quantities of by-products, especially shells, that could be upcycled into much more valuable products. Recent studies have shown that hazelnut shell hemicellulose is particularly rich in compounds that are potential precursors of xylooligosaccharides and arabino-xylooligosaccharides ((A)XOS), previously defined as emerging prebiotics very beneficial for human health. The production of these compounds on an industrial scale-up could have big consequences on the functional foods market. However, to produce (A)XOS from a lignocellulosic biomass, such as hazelnut shell, is not easy. Many methods for the extraction and the purification of these prebiotics have been developed, but they all have different efficiencies and consequences, including on the chemical structure of the obtained (A)XOS. The latter, in turn, is strongly correlated to the nutritional effects they have on health, which is why the optimization of the structural characterization process is also necessary. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the progress made by research in this field, so as to contribute to the exploitation of hazelnut waste streams through a circular economy approach, increasing the value of this biomass through the production of new functional ingredients.
Highlights
Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Via Parco Area delle Scienze 17/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; Abstract: Hazelnuts are one of the most widely consumed nuts, but their production creates large quantities of by-products, especially shells, that could be upcycled into much more valuable products
Bowman and colleagues have studied and well characterized the structure of AXOS originated from enzymatic hydrolysis, by reverse phase-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/MS-MS) after derivatization [143]
Hazelnut shells are by-products with a very high potential that could create, if properly exploited, a huge added value. Their high content of xylans and arabinoxylans in their hemicellulosic fraction creates the condition for obtaining prebiotic (A)xylooligosaccharides rides (XOS) that may be re-used in the creation of functional foods, whose market is growing enormously
Summary
Africa and Europe to Asia Minor and the Caucasus region, is the second most popular nut worldwide just after almonds. Some considerations have been made in terms of possible undesired effects associated with excessive quantities This topic has been discussed in depth by EFSA’s scientific experts following an initial assessment made by the competent authority of Hungary, after receiving a request to place a xylooligosaccharides (XOS) mixture obtained from corncobs by enzymatic hydrolysis on the market as a novel food (NF) in 2018 [85]. In the scientific report issued by EFSA in 2018, it has been stressed that the aforementioned adverse effects were associated with the consumption of other non-digestible carbohydrates For all these reasons, the European Commission agreed to add XOS deriving from corncobs and treated with xylanases to the novel foods list. (expressed in dry weight) AXOS [92]
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