A glucan molecule is a polysaccharide of D-glucose monomers, linked by glycosidic bonds. Due to the different combination of D-glucose, glucan can be divided into many different kinds. Glucan is widely distributed in microorganisms, plants and animals. Widely used Glucan in the market are: Yeast β-Glucans, Oat β-Glucans , Barley β-Glucans , etc.

  In this article, we will compare Yeast β-Glucans and Oat β-Glucans in structure and function to help customer choose the suitable one.

Difference in Structure

  Yeast β-Glucans is a polysaccharide extracted from the cytoderm of Yeast. linked by glycosidic bonds. Its structure is linked by β-(1,3) glycosidic linker as a linear backbone with β-(1, 6) linked branch structure.

  The NMR analysis of yeast β-glucan sample from Shaanxi Yongyuan Bio-Tech shows that the relative ratio of 1,3-glycosidic bond and 1,6-glycosidic bond is 5.3: 1, and the relative percentage of β-(1,6)glycosidic bond and β-(1,3) glycosidic bond is 18.7%.

  Oat β-Glucans is a non-starch polysaccharide exists in the oat cytoderm and aleurone layer cell wall. It is a high molecular polymer built up by β-D-glucopyranose which is linked by β - (1-3) glycosidic bond and β-(1-4) glycosidic bond. And the distribution of the β - (1-3) and β - (1-4) glycosidic bonds is not completely ordered nor completely disordered, it is mainly the cellotriose and cellotetraose of the β - (1-4) glucan.  More than 85% of the oat β-glucan molecules consists of β- (1-4) glycosidic bond which is liked by a β-(1—3) every two or 3 three ones. And 15% is a long chain β- (1-4) glycosidic bonds  separated by one β- (1-3) glycosidic bond, and the length is about 4 to 5 or 8 glucose residues. Oat β-Glucans has a linear and unbranched polysaccharide structure with a β- (1-3) bond, wherein the ratio of the β- (1-4) glycosidic bonds and β - (1-3) glycosidic bonds is about 2.4: 1.

  In short, yeast β-glucan has a strong branched structure, while oat β-glucan only has a straight chain structure.

If you need Yeast β-Glucans and Oat β-Glucans, please contact Shaanxi Yongyuan Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. by E-mail:yysale2@herbalextractcn.com

Difference in Function

Studies have shown that branched chain conditions have a significant effect on the structure and function of β- (1-3) glucan. Take β-(1-6) branch as an example, the greater the branching abundance is, the more favorable of the super-composite spiral formed, and the better the thermal stability and viscosity of polysaccharide is. In terms of activity, highly branched polysaccharides have an advantage in inducing host lymphokine secretion properties and capabilities. In general, the higher the branching abundance, the stronger the biological activity. Thus, the biological activity of yeast beta-glucan having a β- (1-6) branch should theoretically be higher than oat β-glucan.

  Stacey Bell (2006) compared the effects of oat β-glucan and yeast β-glucan on blood lipid: Although there are enough data to show that oat β-glucan can reduce blood lipids and the risk of heart disease, yeast β-glucan has a comparable effect, and the application of yeast β-glucan is wider.

In recent years, the study on the efficacy of oat β-glucan is mainly about lowering  blood glucose, blood lipid and cholesterol, while the researches on yeast β-glucan mainly focused on the immune-adjust effect, anti-tumor and anti-radiation function.

Conclusion

   Yeast β-glucan and oat β-glucan are similar in reducing blood sugar, blood lipids,  and cholesterol. Duo to the different structures--yeast β-glucan contains more β- (1-6 ) branches, it has a wider use for anti-tumor,anti-radiation, etc.

If you need Yeast β-Glucans and Oat β-Glucans, please contact Shaanxi Yongyuan Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. by E-mail:yysale2@herbalextractcn.com