Review of sialic acid's biochemistry, sources, extraction and functions with special reference to edible bird's nest

Alvin Jin Wei Ling; Lee Sin Chang; Abdul Salam Babji; Jalifah Latip; Mamoru Koketsu; Seng Joe Lim

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130755

Review of sialic acid's biochemistry, sources, extraction and functions with special reference to edible bird's nest

Food Chem. 2022 Jan 15:367:130755. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130755. Epub 2021 Aug 4.

Authors

Alvin Jin Wei Ling¹, Lee Sin Chang², Abdul Salam Babji³, Jalifah Latip⁴, Mamoru Koketsu⁵, Seng Joe Lim⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
² Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: leesin@ukm.edu.my.
³ Innovation Centre for Confectionery Technology (MANIS), Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer (INOVASI@UKM), Chancellery, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: daging@ukm.edu.my.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: jalifah@ukm.edu.my.
⁵ Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan. Electronic address: koketsu@gifu-u.ac.jp.
⁶ Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Innovation Centre for Confectionery Technology (MANIS), Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: joe@ukm.edu.my.

PMID: 34390910
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130755

Abstract

Sialic acids are a group of nine-carbon α-keto acids. Sialic acid exists in more than 50 forms, with the natural types discovered as N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), deaminoneuraminic acid (2-keto-3-deoxy-nonulononic acid or Kdn), and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc). Sialic acid level varies depending on the source, where edible bird's nest (EBN), predominantly Neu5Ac, is among the major sources of sialic acid. Due to its high nutritive value and complexity, sialic acid has been studied extensively through acid, aqueous, and enzymatic extraction. Although detection by chromatographic methods or mass spectrometry is common, the isolation and recovery work remained limited. Sialic acid is well-recognised for its bioactivities, including brain and cognition development, immune-enhancing, anti-hypertensive, anticancer, and skin whitening properties. Therefore, sialic acid can be used as a functional ingredient in the various industries. This paper reviews the current trend in the biochemistry, sources, extraction, and functions of sialic acids with special reference to EBN.

Keywords: Edible bird’s nest; Extraction; Glycoconjugates; N-acetylneuraminic acid; Neuraminidase; Sialic acid.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Birds
N-Acetylneuraminic Acid*
Saliva
Sialic Acids*

Substances

Sialic Acids
N-Acetylneuraminic Acid