Preparation of bamboo hemicellulose hydrolysate possessing anti-oxidative properties and their effects on mice plasma cholesterol

Abstract

Bamboo hemicellulose hydrolysate (BHH) was extracted from bamboo by high temperature and enzymatic treatment. The ratio of total sugars in BHH was 75.7% on a dry matter basis (sugar components: 46.4% glucose, 12.7% arabinose, 40.9% xylose). These were mainly comprised of low molecular weight oligosaccharides containing ferulic acid. BHH exhibited strong anti-oxidative activities. In high fat (HF) diet-fed mice, 5% BHH supplementation significantly ameliorated increases in plasma cholesterol levels compared to the control mice fed HF diet alone. Also, while the fecal pH of control mice increased, that of test mice (5% BHH supplementation) did not increase to similar levels. Greater amounts of propionic acid were detected in the feces of HF diet-fed mice fed HF supplemented with BHH than one fed HF diet alone.