FOOD. Science. Technology. Quality

Food. SCIENCE. Technology. Quality

Food. Science. TECHNOLOGY. Quality

Food. Science. Technology. QUALITY

Authors

JUSTYNA BORAWSKA, WŁODZIMIERZ BEDNARSKI, JOANNA GOŁĘBIEWSKA

Title

Profile of honey saccharides and possibilities of applying Bifidobacterium to modify their composition and properties

Abstract

Honey is a product of complex chemical composition with sugars constituting about 80 % thereof. Glucose and fructose cover ca. 90 % of all the sugars contained therein. Oligosaccharides are present in small quantities, but owing to their pre-biotic properties, they have a beneficial effect on the human body. The study comprises a brief description of honey saccharides including oligosaccharides and their physiological significance. Some examples are represented of enzymatic modification of honey saccharides factors, intended to increase the content of healthfully acting oligosaccharides. It was suggested that Bifidobacterium could be used for this purpose since they demonstrated glycolytic enzymes activity. The results of the authors’ own study were shown; the study comprised two selected strains of Bifidobacterium exhibiting a desired enzymatic activity required. It was found that intracellular enzymes predominated therein.

Keywords

honey, saccharides, glycolytic enzymes, β-galactosidase, Bifidobacterium sp.

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