Inulin : non-digestable cabohydrate as soluable fiber from Kaentawan for human health

Abstract

Inulin or oligo-fructan is a form of carbohydrate with intermediate molecular weight (DP>10). Inulin, assoluble fiber, is not digested in digesteric system, but it is a good source of carbon for useful bifidobacteria inexcretion system. Inulin is beneficial to human health because it can prevent obesity, enhances immunity andreduces blood cholesterol and the risk of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2) and heart disease. Innulin isa common substrate in many vegetables such as leak, onion, garlic, tulip, chicory and kaentawan (or Jerusalem artichoke). Kaentawan is a promising candidate for inulin production because of low input, short crop cycle andhigh yield (3-6 tons/rai). Tubers of kaentawan can be used as fresh or cooked vegetable for humans, ingredientsubstitute for antibiotic in animal feed and raw material for sugar, inulin and ethanol production.