Feruloylated oligosaccharides: Structure, metabolism and function

Feruloylated oligosaccharides consist of a large group of compounds that are mainly produced from the hydrolysis of feruloylated polysaccharides. Some are commercially available in the market. In the bound form, ferulic acid is usually esterified at position C-2 or C-5 to l-arabinofuranosyl residues, at position C-6 to β-D-galactopyranosyl residues, and at position C-4 to d-xylopyranosyl residues. This review summarises current knowledge on feruloylated oligosaccharides, including their structures, physiological functions, preparation methods, metabolism and absorption in the colon. Future research trends are also discussed.