Production, Purification, and Health Benefits of Sago Sugar

Abstract

Previous works on the conversion of sago starch and sago hampas into sago sugar, production of cellobiose from sago fronds, and the current studies on the health benefits from consumption of brown sago sugar are presented in this paper. Hydrolysis of sago starch into sugar generates total (100%) recovery, containing glucose (94%), maltose, and other impurities at 3% each. Purification of the brown sago sugar is achieved using powdered activated charcoal to remove all impurities and color. Drying of the purified and concentrated white sago sugar is best performed in an oven (minimum 60 °C), producing high (100%) yield of sugar crystals after several days. Analysis of sweetness revealed that the sago sugar is as sweet as 50% glucose. Brown sago sugar is preferable to white sago sugar due to the presence of antioxidant, analyzed based on total phenolic content (TPC) at 300 mg/kg sugar. Some residual of the TPC can be detected even after purification of the brown sugar. Sago sugar is also obtainable through enzymatic hydrolysis of physically treated sago hampas, generating substantial amount of sugars (70% w/w). Current research also reveals the feasibility of producing cellobiose (approx. 12% w/w) from fresh sago frond, a type of pharmaceutical sugar which commands a higher price than glucose. It is obvious that sago palm has tremendous potential to be adopted as the new source of sugars to replace cane sugar.

Characterizing Soil Penetration Resistance of Planted Sago Palm (Metroxylon spp.) Under Mineral Soils Ecosystem

“…brings many economic and ecosystem services secondary to oil palm; thus, it has the potential to be a crop that deserves prompt attention. The sago palm industry in Sarawak has become one of the important industries contributing to export revenue for sago-related initiatives in Malaysia (Mohamad Naim et al, 2016;Bujang, 2018). Mainly, it was found in the wild, semi-wild, or cultivated by smallholders along the coastal belt, low-lying river areas of the region, including peat swamps.…”

“…However, very few studies are available on the management of smallholder farmers' practices in improving sago palm growth with increased starch yield (Khan, 2005;Yong, 2014). The excellent growth performance of crops must start with a suitable planting site, good planting materials and an effective planting system (Bujang, 2018). The challenges in cultivating sago palm in Sarawak on peat soils are the inability of the sago palm to develop trunk, long maturity period, low survival rate, slow growth performance, low starch yield and soil problem (Pei-Lang et al, 2006;Khan, 2005;Yong et al, 2018).…”

“…The challenges in cultivating sago palm in Sarawak on peat soils are the inability of the sago palm to develop trunk, long maturity period, low survival rate, slow growth performance, low starch yield and soil problem (Pei-Lang et al, 2006;Khan, 2005;Yong et al, 2018). Due to these characteristics, peat swamp is unfavorable for the use of sago palm cultivation due to fewer fertilizers and pesticides being applied (Bujang, 2018).…”

Syntheses, Characterization and Applications of Graft Copolymers of Sago Starch – A Review

“…It is one of the world's most abundant plant products and a major source of energy in human diet. The world production of starch is around 27.5 million tons …”

“…Sago starch is renewable, cheap, biodegradable, low in toxicity, highly viscous if properly extracted, easy to gelatinize, easy to mould, and so a versatile natural polymer . The global consumption of SG lies between 200 000 to 300 000 tons per annum . Nevertheless SG has some shortcomings such as poor strength, low thermal stability, inconsistent viscosity etc …”