Effect of Oligosaccharides from Porphyran on In Vitro Digestions, Utilizations by Various Intestinal Bacteria, and Levels of Serum Lipid in Mice

Digestion of porphyran by enzymes of Arthrobacter sp. S-22 caused neoagarotetraose (NOSP) fraction, sulphated oligosaccharide (DP≤6) (OSP3) fraction, sulphated tetrasaccharide (OSP2) fraction, and sulphated disaccharide (OSP1) fraction. Purified NOSP, OSP2 and OSP1 were partially digested in vitro by α-amylase from human saliva and rat intestinal acetone powder. No digestions were observed in vitro using artificial gastric juice and porcine pancreas. Neoagarotetraose was utilized in vitro by intestinal bacteria, Bacteroides. Hypocholesteromic activities in mice were found in porphyran and all oligosaccharide fractions tested (NOSP, OSP3, OSP2, and OSP1). The percentage of totalserum cholesterol fed with OSP2 and OSP1 were 72 and 67%, respectively, to that of the control.