Evaluation of the Suitability of Agave salmiana Leaves for Fructooligosaccharydes Recovery

The Agave genus is considered to be native to Mexico. Particularly, Agave salmiana is used for pulque elaboration and has been employed in the mezcal and tequila industry, generating agro-industrial residues. Agave leaves store fructose polysaccharides (also called agave inulin) as the main carbohydrate. With agave inulin hydrolysis, fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are obtained. Physical, chemical analyses and enzymatic reactions to obtain agave inulin and FOS from A. salmiana leaf were performed. Physicochemical analysis indicates that carbohydrate content is higher at the bottom. Additionally, the release of reducing sugars was highest in the reaction with cellulase, followed by xylanase and inulinase, in all leaf fractions. The highest yield of agave inulin was obtained at the bottom (12.14%), whereas the highest yield of FOS (13.24%) was obtained at the tip. This methodology allows the obtaining of agave inulin and FOS from agave leaves, which could display biological activities, and furthermore, it may help to decrease environmental pollution.