The commercial exploitation of novel prebiotics based on oligomeric fructans
Evans M (2016) Determination of the degree of polymerisation of fructans from ryegrass and chicory using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry and Gel Permeation Chromatography coupled to multiangle laser light scattering in Food Hydrocolloids
Description Short chain fructans make good pre-biotics enhancing the growth of 'good bacteria' and having a pre-biotic index better than commercially available fructose based pre-biotics. A number of methods were tested to increase the percentage of short chain fructans compared to the larger molecules along with methods of isolation to reduce potential processing costs. Together with work from other projects, the longer chains could be hydrolysied to shorter chain molecules using endo-cutting enzymes, while membrane systems could be used for purification rather than ethanol precipitation. Data showed that a reproducible product could be obtained and that it had the same pre-biotic index as the original material.
Exploitation Route We will now start to carry out animal trails to prove to industry the potential of these novel pre-biotics
Sectors Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals
Title Prebiotic composition
Description Identification and method for isolation of pre-biotics from grasses
Impact To early, in development