Prebiotic xylooligosaccharides from lignocellulosic materials: production, purification and applications – An overview

Abstract

This paper is a state-of-the-art review and a consolidated source of information regarding the prebiotic potential of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) derived from lignocellulosic materials (LCM) as bioactive molecules with high-added value for human health. XOS can be obtained by hydrothermal pretreatment (or autohydrolysis), a primary technological step in biological conversion of LCM
into value-added products. Purification of XOS is a complex process which aims to remove unwanted compounds and to achieve the necessary degree of polymerization. Proven benefits and positive effects on the human health are mainly in the intestinal microbiota, where food-grade XOS stimulate the growth and proliferation of probiotic bacteria. The main objective of this study was to provide an in-depth overview of the recent published investigations reported in the scientific literature on the production of XOS from xylan-containing LCM by hydrothermal pretreatment, purification of hydrothermally produced XOS and, furthermore, evaluation of the bioactive properties of purified XOS.