2009 Volume 15 Issue 6 Pages 557-568
Functions of food polysaccharides to control the gelatinization and retrogradation behaviors of starch were reviewed, with a brief introduction to the physicochemical properties of starch. The conclusions of some reports cannot be easily compared to understand the molecular mechanisms for the functions of polysaccharides, partially due to insufficient purification or characterization of the polysaccharide samples. In this sense, a series of studies has recently used well-characterized samples to clarify the effects of molecular weight and other macromolecular characteristics of polysaccharides on starch behavior. Based on these recent reports, schematic figures were drawn to explain their results on a molecular level, allowing for determination of a structure-function correlation of polysaccharides. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms is necessary for the progress of the food industry from both a fundamental and an application point of view.
