In the current study, we investigated the inhibitory activity of water soluble β-glucan from oat (Avena sativa) against various digestive enzymes such as α-glucosidase, sucrase, maltase and glucoamylase. Inhibition of these enzymes involved in the absorption of disaccharide can significantly decrease the post-prandial increase of blood glucose level after a mixed carbohydrate diet. The β-glucan had the highest documented rate of small intestinal sucrase inhibitory activity (2.83 mg/mL, IC50) relevant for potentially managing post-prandial hyperglycemia. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of β-glucan on the level of post-prandial blood glucose in animal model. The post-prandial blood glucose levels were tested two hours after sucrose/starch administration, with and without β- glucan (100, and 500 mg/kg-body weight). The maximum blood glucose levels (Cmax) of β-glucan administration group were decreased by about 23% (from 219.06±27.82 to 190.44±13.18, p<0.05) and 10% (from 182.44±13.77 to 165.64±10.59, p<0.01) in starch and sucrose loading test, respectively, when compared to control in pharmacodynamics study. The β -Glucan administration significantly lowered the mean, maximum, and minimum level of post-prandial blood glucose at 30 min after meal. In view of the foregoing, it is felt that our findings suggest that β-glucan from oat serves to reduce post-prandial blood glucose rise secondary to slower absorption of glucose in the small intestine, via carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes inhibition.

본 연구에서는 꽃송이버섯 건물과 powder를 각각 Yeast Extract broth와 MRS broth에서 Lactoballius 4종(L. plantarum, L. acidophilus, L. helveticus, and L. delbrueckii)과 함께 발효시켰다. 발효액의 final pH는 pH 3.9±0.02로 유산균의 일반적인 final pH 값과 일치함을 통해 유산균의 발효를 확인하였고, 유산균에 의한 꽃송이버섯 발효의 효과를 β-glucan 함량을 통하여 확인하였다. Yeast Extract broth 발효액은 YSB-2LP 1.65 g/100 g으로 β-glucan을 거의 함유하고 있지 않았지만 MRS broth 발효액은 Yeast Extract broth 발효액의 10배에 달하는 MPB-1LP 10.84 g/100 g을 함유하고 있었다. MPB-1LP는 꽃송이버섯 powder와 L.actobacillus plantarum으로 발효한 발효액으로 pH stress로 인해 만들어진 L. plantarum의 β-D-glucosidase에 의해 분해된 고분자량의 수용성 β-glucan이라 사료된다. 꽃송이버섯을 powder 상태로 L. plantarum과 함께 발효시켰을 때 꽃송이버섯의 수용성 β-glucan 추출 효율을 높일 수 있으며, 본 연구의 결과는 꽃송이버섯 유산균 발효물의 면역촉진 작용 연구를 위한 기초연구자료로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.