beta-glucan, "the knight of health sector": critical insights on physiochemical heterogeneities, action mechanisms and health implications

Abstract

beta-glucans, the class of biological response modifier has unceasing attention, not only for its immune stimulating but also for its role as prebiotics, modulator of physiological events etc. and is widely used in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular diseases etc. However, beta-glucan with different physiochemical properties is found to have discrete clinical functions and thus careful selection of the types of beta-glucan plays pivotal role in providing significant and expected clinical outcome. Herein this review, we presented the factors responsible for diverse functional properties of beta-glucan, their distinct mode of actions in regulating human health etc. Further, clinical aspects of different beta-glucans toward the management of wound care, metabolic dysbiosis, fatty liver disorders and endurance training associated energy metabolism were compiled and exhibited in detail.