Page 86 - FoodFocusThailand No.238 January-February 2026

substances, such as β-glucan, immune cells are
modified in their function, which involves increasing
their reaction to subsequent stimulation (Art et al.,
2018). It has been shown that the use of β-glucan
in combination with chemotherapy can enhance the
destruction of cancer cells.
β-glucan has been extensively studied as a biological
(Chan et al., 2009), directly interacting with immune-cell
membrane receptors and inducing inflammation and
potent immune responses to non-autoimmune antigens
expressed by pathogens, including cancer cells
(Vos et al., 2007). The immunomodulatory properties
of β-D-glucan have been extensively investigated,
and it has been shown to have anticancer activity by
enhancing the immune response to cancer cells and
promoting angiogenesis (Wang et al., 2020). Several
clinical and preclinical studies have shown that
β-D-glucan can modify the responses and interactions
between the innate and adaptive immune systems
ภาพที่่� 3 คุุณสมบััติิของพรีีไบัโอติิกส์ (in vitro) ของกลููแคุนชนิด EPS จาก (Vetvicka et al., 2014) (Figure 2).
Research has shown that β-glucan derived from
Enterococcus hirae OL616073
Figure 3 Prebiotic potential (in vitro) of glucan EPS from Enterococcus hirae yeast cell walls possesses bioactive properties that
OL616073 can stimulate the immune system. β-glucan binds
to specific receptors on white blood cells, thereby
ที่่�มา / Source: Swati et al. (2025)
enhancing their functional efficiency. At present,
β-glucan is used across various industries, including
Biological Properties of Beta-Glucan in the Human Body the food and cosmetics industries (Burkus & Temelli,
Research has shown that β-glucan from yeast cell walls possesses 2000). In addition, dietary β-glucan functions as
active properties that can stimulate the body’s immune system. a prebiotic (Mitsou et al., 2010). It is a type of dietary
β-glucan binds to specific receptors on white blood cells to enhance fiber that is neither digested nor absorbed in the
their function (Thomas et al., 2022). Furthermore, yeast β-glucan gastrointestinal tract but instead promotes the growth
exhibits numerous health benefits, including lowering blood sugar of beneficial microorganisms while reducing the
levels, reducing inflammation, balancing the immune system, acting population of harmful bacteria that negatively affect
as an antioxidant, and possessing anticancer properties. Recently, health. Studies have demonstrated that β-glucans
β-glucans have been reported to alleviate cognitive impairment, derived from plants, yeast, mushroom and various
with their blood sugar-lowering effect linked to the modulation of the fungi can serve as effective prebiotics by stimulating
gut microbiota (Xu et al., 2020; Cao et al., 2016). Consistent with the growth of bacteria in the genus Bifidobacterium
this, several studies have found that β-glucans extracted from oats and Lactobacillus (Mitsou et al., 2010). Furthermore,
and S. cerevisiae enhance the immune system’s antibacterial and β-glucan helps alleviate constipation, maintain water
antiparasitic effects, thereby increasing resistance to parasitic and and electrolyte balance, and enhance the absorption
bacterial infections (Kadriye & Bagriacik, 2011). of minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and
A report by Varelas et al. (2016) explored a novel source for the zinc (Bengmark, 2005). Foods reported to contain
commercial synthesis of yeast β-glucan. The researchers isolated high levels of β-glucan include wheat, garlic, bananas,
β-glucan for the first time from yeast biomass waste from wine onions, spring onions, honey, asparagus, and chicory
production. In the winemaking process, a byproduct called lees is root (Gibson, 2004).
generated, primarily consisting of spent yeast, bacteria, tartaric acid, Beta-glucan has attracted significant attention in
ethanol, phenol, and pigments. Therefore, β-glucan can be obtained food science due to its outstanding biological properties
from the waste yeast biomass accumulated in wine barrels throughout and technological functionalities. In addition, beta-
the winemaking process. However, β-glucans from grains primarily glucan has been widely used in the food and drug
affect metabolic processes, including gut microbiota regulation and industries to improve the physical properties of food
cholesterol reduction, thus mitigating cardiovascular problems, while products, including increasing viscosity, acting as
non-grain β-glucans act in conjunction with the immune system an emulsifier, controlling gel formation, enhancing
(Thomas et al., 2022). moisture retention, and serving as a low-calorie food
According to Thomas et al. (2022), β-glucan can inhibit cancer ingredient (Tang et al., 2017). As a result, it is commonly
in patients. The immune system is divided into two types: adaptive used in a wide range of products, including bakery
immunity and innate immunity (Medzhitov & Janeway, 2020). The items, functional drinks, meat analogs, and foods for
innate immune system acts as a rapid defense against pathogens, the elderly. Therefore, the use of beta-glucan in food
while the adaptive immune system develops a protective response products reflects the trend toward developing modern
against the body’s next encounter with the same pathogen. Therefore, functional foods that address health benefits, functional
it plays an important role in preventing infection and the effectiveness performance, and long-term sustainability.
of vaccines (Bonilla & Oettgen, 2010; Dominguez-Andres & Netea,
2019; Netea et al., 2020). One mechanism that triggers trained
immunity is genetic modification. After being stimulated with certain

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