Role of Agar in Neutaceuticals

Abstract

As a food and gelling agent, agar, a gelatinous polysaccharide found in the cell walls of numerous red algae, is widely used. Due to its lower molecular weight, greater water solubility, and superior absorption efficiency, the hydrolysate of agar, oligosaccharides (AOs), exhibits a far wider range of biological activities. Under various preparation conditions, it is shown that AOs with varying structure and degree of polymerization, such as series of agaro-oligosaccharides and neoagaro-oligosaccharides, can be produced. Furthermore, the biological activities of AOs are intimately and variably related to the composition and structure. The objective of this review is to give a comprehensive overview of the production, structural properties, and biological activity of AOs in order to offer a foundation for the usage of AOs as marine natural products used in the nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.