Methods of Extraction of Beta-Glucan
摘要
Beta-glucans are a group of polysaccharides present in various natural sources such as fungi, bacteria, and plants. These polysaccharides are recognized for several health benefits, including lowered cholesterol, strengthened immunity, and potential treatment and prevention of some cancers. Thus, it is important to focus our effort on the methods of extraction including quality and the quantity of beta-glucans to fully realize its benefits. There are numerous ways to extract beta-glucans from different sources, and each has advantages and disadvantages of its own. The source material, desired quality, and intended application of the extracted beta-glucan all influence the extraction process selection. This chapter aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of extraction methods to obtain beta-glucans from a variety of resources, discussing their advantages, limitations and suitability for different applications. We have also discussed the factors that could influence the extraction process and the characteristics of the resulting beta-glucan.