A glucan molecule is a polysaccharide of D-glucose monomers, linked by glycosidic bonds. By definition, beta-glucans are chains of D-glucose polysaccharides, linked by beta-type glycosidic bonds. These six-sided D-glucose rings can be connected to one another, on a variety of positions on the D-glucose ring structure. Some β-glucan compounds are continual repeats of D-glucose attached at a specific position. However, β- glucans can be more diverse than molecules like starch. Alpha (α) and beta (β) glucans are differentiated by stereochemistry. Alpha glycosidic bonds are formed in an axial position while beta glycosidic bonds are formed in an equatorial position. Numbering of both alpha and beta glucans relate to the number of the carbon atoms on which the glycosidic bond is formed. Thus, in a beta-1,3 glucan, the glycosidic bonds are formed at the first and third carbons in the glucose ring.

1. Health Benefit of Glucans
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University
Salna, Gazipur-1706
Prepared by:
DEEPTO KUNDU AMIO
diptobsmrau@gmail.com

2. INTRODUCTION
 Glucan: A polysaccharide of D-glucose monomers, linked
by glycosidic bonds.
 Mainly 2 types on the basis of their chemical structure :
Alpha-glucan ( Dextran, Glycogen) & Beta-glucan
(Laminarin, Chrysolaminarin).
 Alpha (α) and beta (β) glucans are differentiated by
stereochemistry. Alpha glycosidic bonds are formed in
an axial position while beta glycosidic bonds are formed
in an equatorial position.

3. Positive Health Effects of Glucans
Glucans acts as an immunostimulant, develop the immune
system of newborn babies.
Glucans have been widely studied as anti-cancer agents (Ma
et al., 2010).
It has positive effects on lung cancer, Leukemia, melanoma
(Kamiryo et al., 2005), Prostate cancer etc.
Plays important role in glucose metabolism and diabetes

4. Health Benefits of Alpha glucans
Dextran (α-1,6-glucan)
I. Medicinally it is used as an antithrombotic, reduce blood
viscosity.
II. Dextran 70 is on the WHO Model List of Essential
Medicines.
III. By inhibiting α-2 antiplasmin, dextran serves as a
plasminogen activator

5. Health Benefits of Alpha glucans
 Starch, α-1,4-glucan and α-1,6-glucan
I. Founds in plant cells, some bacteria and protists and are
made up of amylopectin and amylose.
 Resistant starch
I. Resistant is the fraction of starch which is not hydrolyzed to
D-glucose in the small intestine within 120 min of being
consumed, but which is fermented in the colon.
II. It increase fecal bulk and lower colonic pH, helps in
glycaemic control, cardiovascular disease control.

6. Health benefits of Beta-glucans
Oat fiber β-glucan intake @t 3g/day reduces the saturated
fat level in blood & reduce the risk of heart disease.
Cereal-derived β-glucan may also have immunomodulatory
properties.
Have positive effect in Diabetes, Cancer patients.
Reduces the level of LDL cholesterol and overall cholesterol
level.
Improves the survival of HIV/AIDS patients.

7. Effects of beta-glucans on immune system
Beta-glucans from mushroom especially Lentinan & Pleuran
increase host immune defense by activating complement
system, enhancing macrophages and natural killer cell function.
Beta-Glucans also show anticarcinogenic activity.
Beta-glucan can inhibit tumor growth in promotion stage.

8. Beta-glucan in Cancer Treatment
Beta-glucan has been approved as a drug in Japan, Australia,
South Korea, and Taiwan as an immunoadjuvant therapy for
cancer for the last 30 years.
Effects of Beta-glucans in Cancer prevention
Cytotoxicity – By stimulating white blood cells (macrophages
& natural killer cells) to stop tumor growth.
Anti-angiogenesis – Preventing cancer cells from developing
the network of blood vessels that is required to feed tumors.
Treatment Restoration – Reversing the damage done by
chemo and radiation therapies, glucans restore bone marrow
injury by stimulating red blood cell production.

9. Other Effects of Beta-glucans
Lower Cholesterol
Beta glucan has a cholesterol-lowering effect that reduces the risk
of coronary heart disease.
Control Blood Sugar
Soluble fiber such as beta glucan slows the absorption of sugars
from the diet, according to Heart UK, and may be useful in
controlling blood sugar levels.

10.  Reduction of Blood Pressure
Beta glucans can help to reduce blood pressure.
beta-glucan is especially effective at lowering
blood pressure in those that are already obese
and already have high blood pressure.

11. Beta Glucan and Immunomodulation
1,3 β-glucans can enhance the responsiveness and function of
immune cells, stimulating both humoral and cellular immunity .
In vitro studies demonstrated that β-glucans can enhance the
functional activity of macrophages and activate the anti-
microbial activity of mononuclear cells and neutrophils.
In vivo studies of a variety of β-glucans on the responses to
pathogen infections in animals have observed increased
microbial clearance and reduced mortality in lethally infected
animals when exposed to β-glucans .

12. CONCLUSION
 The number of individual glucans is almost as great as the number
of sources used for their isolation.” –Department of Pathology,
University of Louisville.
 Czech researchers state it the best:
“Despite almost 150 years of research, the exact mechanisms of their
action remain unclear.
 Glucans are used successfully to treat various infectious diseases.
Beta-glucan plays an important role in threatment of diabetes type-
2, cancer.
 Glucans may add a new dimension in the field of medical science to
treat various diseases and as a immunomodulator.

13. References
 Ma ZC, Wang JG, Zhang LN, Zhang YF, Ding K. 2010. Evaluation of
water soluble beta-D-glucan from Auricularia auricular-judae as
potential anti-tumor agent. Carbohydrate Polymers 80(3): 977-
983
 Kamiryo, Y, Yajima, T, Saito, K, et al. 2005. Soluble branched (1,4)-
beta-D-glucans from Acetobacter species enhance antitumor
activities against MHC class I-negative and -positive malignant
melanoma through augmented NK activity and cytotoxic T-cell
response. International Journal of Cancer 115(5):769-776.