Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications of Xylan and Its Derivatives

Hemicelluloses are non-soluble plant cell wall polysaccharides that can be separated by alkali or hydrolyzed by dilute acids. Major hemicelluloses are xylan, glucuronoxylan, arabinoxylan, mannan, glucomannan, and galactoglucomannan. The non-toxicity, abundance, and biodegradability of hemicelluloses make it a prospective substrate for the production of oligosaccharides and other value-added products that are used in biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Xylooligosaccharides can be produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of xylan extracted from agro-waste and have applications in blood sugar level control, boosting immunity, improving intestinal function, and reducing fatigue. Other derivatives like xylan esters and xylan ethers function as anticoagulants and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Xylan-based materials like hydrogels and biofilms are effective in cell immobilization, wound dressing, cancer therapy, drug delivery, prevention of neurodegenerative, cardiovascular disease and treatment of various chronic diseases.