Recent advances in the production, properties and applications of alginate oligosaccharides-a mini review

Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) made from the degradation of alginate, to some extent, makes up for the poor solubility and bioavailability of alginate as a macromolecular substance and possess several beneficial biological activities that are absent in alginate. These properties include prebiotic, glycolipid regulatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-tumor, promoting plant growth and other activities. Consequently, AOS has significant potential for use in the agricultural, biomedical, and food industries, and has been the focus of research in the field of marine biological resources. This review comprehensively covers methods (physical, chemical, and enzymatic methods) for the production of AOS from alginate. More importantly, this paper reviews recent advances in the biological activity and potentially industrial and therapeutic applications of AOS, providing a reference for future research and applications of AOS.

Automated summary

Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) are derived from alginate degradation and overcome the limitations of poor solubility and bioavailability of alginate. They possess various beneficial biological activities, including prebiotic, glycolipid regulatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-tumor, and plant growth promoting activities. AOS shows great potential in agricultural, biomedical, and food industries, and has been extensively studied as marine biological resources. This review covers methods for AOS production and discusses recent advances in their biological activities and potential applications, providing a reference for future research and utilization of AOS.