Larch Arabinogalactan
| Larch arabinogalactan (AG) is classified as a polysaccharide, or complex sugar. It is considered a prebiotic and a nondigestible/fermentable dietary fiber. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Larch AG for uses as a ‘safe and tolerable’ food additive. As a GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) direct additive in foods, it is often used as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and for numerous beverage and nutraceutical applications. Larch Arabinogalactan is also used as an alternative sweetener, having a minimal impact on blood insulin levels.
Arabinogalactans are commonly found in various bacteria, fungi, and certain plant species. Echinacea and Shitake mushrooms are among the most well known of organics containing arabinogalactan. The commercial source of Larch AG is harvested from either the Western or Eastern larch tree; though the majority of nutritional supplements contain extracted arabinogalactan proteins from the Western larch tree. Larch arabinogalactan is actually a mixture of several varying arabinogalactans with versatile molecular weights.
It is theorized that the therapeutic properties of Larch AG may be directly influenced by this weight flexibility, especially concerning its two major weight fractions .[1] Why is this relevant? Lower weighted polysaccharides often provide for anti-inflammatory and antiallergy effects, while natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and reticuloendothelial cells are stimulated from higher molecular weights. Larch AG’s unique biological characteristics make it an ideal applicant for various therapeutic implications.
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