Levan, medical applications and effect on pathogens

Abstract

 

Levan is a homopolysaccharide that is composed of d-fructofuranosyl residues joined by β-2,6 linkage. It is naturally obtained from both microorganisms and plants. Microbial levans are more advantageous, industrially and economical with numerous applications and have wide range of applications in food, pharmaceutical, medicine, industry and cosmetic. Levan finds many applications due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and film-forming ability. It can be used as a plasma substitute, prolongator of drug activity, radio protector, coating material in drug delivery systems. Many studies reported levan's multiple beneficial effects on human and animal health. Therefore, levan is best known to have antitumor, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Levan also used as a prebiotic, which can adhere to stomach epithelial cells and promote probiotics bacteria. This mechanism, in turn, controls pathogenic bacteria and may counteract the inflammatory process by enhancing the degradation of enteral antigens, resulting in a reduction of inflammatory mediator secretion.