ABSTRACT
Xylooligosaccharide (XOS) is a nondigestible oligosaccharide (NDO) composed of two to seven xylose molecules bonded with β (1-4) glycosidic bonds. Molecular formula of XOS is C5nH8n+2 O4n+1, where n = 2-7. XOS is naturally present in fruits, vegetables, bamboo, honey, and milk. It can be produced on an industrial scale by enzymatic hydrolysis of xylan-rich food ingredients, such as corncob or wheat bran. Xylan is the major component of plant hemicelluloses that are composed of xylose and arabinose backbones with side chains of galactose, glucose, and/or mannose (Southgate, 1979).
