Unlocking the Power of Xylooligosaccharides as Nutraceuticals: Sources, Production Strategies, and Applications

Prebiotics have garnered significant attention as food supplements to support human health and serve as a preventive measure against various health disorders. Among these, xylooligosaccharides (XOS) stand out as promising non-digestible, low-molecular-weight prebiotics that promote gut microbiota and offer other secondary health benefits, including immunomodulatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, growth-regulating, and antioxidant effects as well. Despite extensive research on the potential of XOS as a potent prebiotic and therapeutic agent, a gap remains in understanding the precise mechanisms of their function. Moreover, their public use has not advanced significantly, primarily due to limitations in cost-effective production strategies. Further improvements are needed to scale the methods for the production from lab-scale to commercial-scale. This review aims to summarize existing reports and provide a comprehensive overview, helping to further research into the economical production of XOS using low-cost substrates. This will facilitate the transition of these oligosaccharides from the laboratory to the market. Additionally, studies exploring their potential as bioactive compounds have also been discussed to understand their structural–function relationship and broaden their application in various sectors.