Review on microbial production of exopolysaccharides and its applications

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are bio-molecules produced by variety of microorganisms by both eukaryotes and prokaryotic. EPS are high molecular weight molecules available in both homopolysaccharide and heteropolysaccharide. Plants are the primary source of exopolysaccharides (EPS); however, microbiological EPS have a diverse range of structures and functions that enable them to endure harsh environmental conditions. Studying the structure and composition of exopolysaccharides is crucial for understanding their beneficial functions and potential applications in different fields such as food, dairy, medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and other industries. This review briefly describes how extremities trigger microbes to produce EPS with unique properties. In addition, it covers optimization and strain improvement methods to increase the productivity of microbes, extraction and purification methods. Similarities and differences of solid-state fermentation and submerged fermentation for EPS production from Bacteria and Fungi are sighted in this review. Applications of EPS in different fields owing to their various physicochemical properties are also discussed in this review. This review provides explanations with respect to microbial habitats, fermentation scales, purification methods and recent research on their potential applications.