Writing in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Biothera scientists report an “accurate and precise measure of beta-glucan content”. The new method, called the Glucan Enzymatic Method (GEM), uses potassium hydroxide to sweel the sample and this is then trated with the enzyme lyticase. This initial treatment is followed by exposure to a mixture of exo-1,3-beta-D-glucanase and beta-glucosidase enzymes, which convert beta-glucan to glucose. Another enzymatic method then measures the glucose generated.
“GEM is an important advancement in the chemical characterization of beta glucans,” said Richard Mueller, Biothera president and chief executive officer. “For the first time, food, beverage and supplement manufacturers can confirm scientifically the purity and quality of the ingredients they are adding to their products. Consumers also can have confidence that GEM-tested products contain the beta glucan dosage as labeled.”
According to Biothera, GEM can be applied to both ingredients and finished products.
“GEM is the only assay for finished product analysis,” said Mueller.
Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1021/jf102003m
“Enzymatic Method To Measure β-1,3-β-1,6-Glucan Content in Extracts and Formulated Products (GEM Assay)”
Authors: M.E. Danielson, R. Dauth, N.A. Elmasry, R.R. Langeslay, A.S. Magee, P.M. Will