Deciphering inulin from Jerusalem artichoke: Extraction, structural characteristics, bioactivities, structure-activity relationship, modifications, pharmacokinetics and applications.

BACKGROUND: Inulin, a crucial component in Jerusalem artichoke (JAI), has drawn significant attention. It is not only a high - quality dietary fiber but also exhibits a spectrum of pharmacological functions, such as lowering blood glucose and blood lipids, regulating intestinal flora, immunoregulation and maintenance of gut homeostasis. The research of Jerusalem artichoke inulin in the realm of structure and bioactivities is of great significance.

PURPOSE: This review comprehensively summarizes the latest advancements on the extraction, purification, structural characteristics, biological activities, structure-activity relationship and structural modification of Jerusalem artichoke inulin. It also elucidates the pharmacokinetics, safety assessment, as well as the potential application of JAI, offering invaluable insights for its development and utilization.

METHODS: The extensive literatures were conducted compiling the information on the extraction, purification, structural characterization, structure-activity relationsip, structural modification, pharmacokinetics and safety assessment of Jerusalem artichoke inulin from diverse databases including PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and CNKI. This thorough summary lays the foundation for comprehensive understanding of JAI.

RESULTS: Jerusalem artichoke inulin, a key bioactive component, can be obtained through various extraction methods, especially hot water extraction, ultrasonic-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction from the laboratory research to the large-scale production. Subsequently, a variety of analytical techniques such as GC-MS, HPLC, FT-IR, NMR are conducted to delve into the degree of polymerization, molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, glycosidic bond and chemical structure of inulin. Additionally, JAI possesses multifaceted bioactivities, including regulating gut microbiota, reducing blood glucose and lipids, enhancing immune, and promoting mineral absorption. Furthermore, the structure-activity relationship and structural modification of inulin are also highlighted, especially by chemical, physical, or biological modification to endow inulin with superior biological activities and physicochemical properties. The pharmacokinetics and safety assessment highlight its application in food, pharmaceuticals and biomedical industry.

CONCLUSIONS: This summary has laid a robust foundation for extracting inulin from Jerusalem artichoke and elucidating its structure characteristics and physicochemical properties. Moreover, a substantial evidence is also complemented to exhibit its multifaceted biological attributes, including the regulation of gut microbiota, immunomodulation, blood glucose-lowering and blood lipids-lowering, as well as the promotion of mineral absorption. Noteworthily, the structure-activity relationship and structural modification of JAI elucidates the intricate interactions between its molecular structure and dynamic host-microbiota. The pharmacokinetics and safety assessment emphasize its application in the fields of food and pharmaceuticals.