Description

• General description: α-Cyclodextrin (α-CD) is a cyclic oligosaccharide that consists of six glucopyranose units linked by α-(1,4) bonds.[1] α-CD acts as a soluble dietary fiber and hence it is preferred to be widely used in food industry.[2]
• Application: Useful for the solubilization of nonpolar macromolecules such as fatty acids, lipids, and cholesterol for use in cell culture applications. α-Cyclodextrin has been used to solubilize odanacatib, a cathepsin K inhibitor.[3]
• Biochem/physiol Actions: α-Cyclodextrin is found to form a firm complex with dietary fats. This way it decreases the bioavailability and absorption of fats. It is known to regulate triglyceride and leptin levels in serum. In rat models, α-Cyclodextrin is shown to induce insulin sensitivity and fecal fat excretion. Thus, α-cyclodextrin is considered to be effective for treating obesity and metabolic syndromes.[2]