Biological Activities and Potential Application in Food Industry

Currently, the number of natural products associated with possible health benefits with regard their functional effects are increasing rapidly. Previous studies have indicated that chitooligosaccharides (COS) possess numerous beneficial properties such as antibacterial, anti-diabetic, immunity-enhancing, anti-obesity, and anti-tumor advantages. In this chapter, the protective effects of COS were presented in various models, and their critical underlying molecular mechanisms, as well as their prevention and intervention effects, were summarized. Moreover, COS display significant diversity regarding its utilization in the food industry, and their extraordinary benefits exceed that of chitosan. The advantages presented by COS not only relate to extending the shelf-life of food and retaining its quality but also possess nutraceutical properties that are beneficial in functional daily supplements and food for special medical purposes (FSMP). Based on the current studies, the various and potential application of COS in the food industry was also summarized in this chapter. Furthermore, the limitations derived from the existing research was illustrated, and additional possibilities were considered for the active intervention and development of a new application direction.