Pullulan is a water-soluble polysaccharide produced by the fermentation of Aureobasidium pullulans.
It has excellent adhesion and oxygen barrier properties. It can be quickly dissolved in water, the solution is neutral, has the characteristics of non- ionization and non-gelation, and is miscible with other food colloids, and can be widely used in food and cosmetics fields.
It is a fungal exopolysaccharide (EPS). It is readily soluble in water and is stable over a broad range of pH conditions. Importantly, Pullulan solution is not highly viscous; therefore, it will not affect the viscosity when added to solutions.
It is not affected by temperature and ph, generally stable. Does not get gelled.
Pullulan is mainly used by the cell to resist against desiccation and predation, the presence of this polysaccharide also facilitates diffusion of molecules both into and out of the cell. The presence of pullulan in the environment next to the cell favorizes the formation of biofilm. Pullulan is a white powder that is odorless, flavorless, and stable. Pullulan films have low permeability to oxygen, which protects active ingredients, flavors, and colors incorporated into the film from deterioration.
APPLICATION OF PULLULAN
- Beverages (fruit & vegetable juice, non- alcoholic beverages)
- Confectionary (candies, chocolate coating, food seasonings, savory)
- Chewing gums and mouth freshener strips
- Dietary Supplement (nutraceuticals, supplements, & protein drinks)
How to use?
- 10-50 g/kg mix with distilled water or cold boiled water to make about 10% solution, and then add it to food.
- OR 5% Aqueous solution, added when mixing, can be used with other thickeners also.
- It can be used in combination with other foods colloids.
It has also been used as a carrier for oral drug-delivery systems, because it is not attacked by the digestive enzymes in the human gut. Pullulan is functionally for a variety of applications, including for use as an adhesive, binder, and thickener to modify or maintain the texture of food.
In skin care industry,
Pullulan is an important ingredient because its tightening effect is almost instant but it will wash away. After a long period of time, it will enhance the immune response and make the skin more resistant to infections.
The use of edible coatings to protect foods has long been known. Edible coatings can help prevent the deterioration of foods by retarding dehydration, suppressing respiration, improving textural quality, allowing the retention of volatile flavor compounds, and reducing microbial growth. Due to this potential, the interest in the development and use of edible coatings to prolong shelf life and improve quality of fresh, frozen, and formulated food products has rapidly increased over the last two decades.
