Insights into recent advances in agro-waste derived xylooligosaccharides: production, purification, market, and health benefits

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are non-digestible oligosaccharides made primarily of xylose units with a high prebiotic potential. XOS display great thermostability (100 °C) and strong acid resistance over a pH range (2–7), making them suitable for gastrointestinal administration given their potential to tolerate gastric acid. XOS improves digestion and nutrient absorption while also providing health advantages by inhibiting the formation of harmful microorganisms. XOS, generated from lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) through enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis, have significant prebiotic characteristics and broad applications in medicine, food, and health. The XOS purification has become crucial to their subsequent industrial application. Still, it needs further exploration to lower costs and increase the purity of the XOS-supplemented diet. It benefits host wellness in numerous ways because of its immunomodulatory, growth-regulating, anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, and other bioactive compounds. Collaboration among researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers is critical for converting research findings into practical implementations. An academic search engine (Web of Science) was accessed to identify the most relevant literature on the XOS derived from agro-waste. Additional information was obtained from SCOPUS and Google Scholar databases. This review paper explores developments in agro-waste-derived XOS and its potential as an ingredient in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and the agriculture sector. The review also highlights its production and purification methods as well as health benefits. Furthermore, the global market potential of XOS creates a vision for extensive areas of growing impact in the field.