Because of its high inulin concentration, this variety is the only species in the Agavaceae family that is appropriate for tequila production. The Agave tequilana Weber azul variety is an economically important species of Agave cultivated in Mexico. In addition to chicory root, another potential fructan source includes the more recently investigated Agave fructans. However, some candidate fructans, such as galactooligosaccharides (GOS) derived from lactose and lactulose, have also demonstrated potential prebiotic effects. Worldwide, the most studied and marketed fructan is inulin, which is obtained primarily from chicory roots. Fructans: Structure, Source, and SynthesisДЄpproximately 15% of flowering plants store fructans as reserve carbohydrates. The aim of this review is to summarize the latest findings on studies investigating fructans as prebiotics and to provide an overall image of the mechanisms underlying the health effects of fructans. In addition, direct interaction between fructans and intestinal immune cells has recently been suggested. Fructans are fermented to short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have important implications in host health. Fructans may also act as scavengers of reactive oxygen species, decreasing inflammation and improving redox status. Fructans are selective substrates for probiotic bacteria stimulating probiotic bacterial growth, which can confer health benefits to the host through the several mechanisms, including immunomodulation. ДЇructans contribute to host health through multiple mechanisms. For this reason, this type of fructans has been called вЂњagavinsвЂќ. Thus, Agave fructans can contain an external glucose, characteristic of graminans, and an internal glucose, characteristic of neofructans. Agave fructans have a more complex, highly branched structure, including ОІ(2в†’1) and ОІ(2в†’6) linkages. In the scientific literature, ITFs are frequently referenced generically but inconsistently as вЂњinulin,вЂќ вЂњoligofructoseвЂќ (OF), and вЂњfructooligosaccharidesвЂќ (FOS). ITFs are linear fructose polymers with ОІ(2в†’1) linkages found naturally in chicory roots, wheat, onion, garlic, and other foods. Inulin-type fructans (ITFs) are among the most studied ITFs are indigestible, fully soluble, fermentable food ingredients with known prebiotic properties. Substantial variation in chemical and structural conformations makes fructans a flexible and appealing ingredient for different dietary products such as nutraceuticals. Various fructan-containing plant species, including asparagus, garlic, leek, onion, Jerusalem artichoke, and chicory roots, are often eaten as vegetables.

They are found in a small number of mono- and dicotyledonous families of plants, such as Liliaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Gramineae, Compositae, Nolinaceae, and Agavaceae. IntroductionДЇructans are recognized as health-promoting food ingredients. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of fructans interaction with the intestinal immune system, the gut microbiota, and other components of the intestinal lumen to provide an overview of the mechanisms underlying the effects of fructans on health and disease. Fructans are currently being studied for their potential as вЂњROS scavengersвЂќ that benefit intestinal epithelial cells by improving their redox environment. However, a more direct mechanism for fructan activity has recently been suggested fructans may interact with immune cells in the intestinal lumen to modulate immune responses in the body. The indirect role of fructans in stimulating probiotic growth is one of the mechanisms through which fructans exert their prebiotic activity and improve health or ameliorate disease.

Additionally, fructans are resistant to hydrolysis by human digestive enzymes but can be fermented by the colonic microbiota to produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), metabolic by-products that possess immunomodulatory activity. These carbohydrates may be straight or branched with varying degrees of polymerization. Fructans are nonreducing carbohydrates composed of fructosyl units and terminated by a single glucose molecule. Previous studies have shown that fructans, a soluble dietary fiber, are beneficial to human health and offer a promising approach for the treatment of some diseases.

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