Production of beta-maltooligosaccharides of alpha- and delta-tocopherols by Klebsiella pneumoniae and cyclodextrin glucanotransferase as anti-allergic agents.

The glycosylation of alpha- and delta-tocopherols using Klebsiella pneumoniae and cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) was investigated. K. pneumoniae converted alpha- and delta-tocopherols into the corresponding beta-glucosides in 10 and 8% yield, respectively. CGTase glycosylated alpha-tocopheryl beta-glucoside to alpha-tocopheryl beta-maltoside (51%) and alpha-tocopheryl beta-maltotrioside (35%). On the other hand, delta-tocopheryl beta-glucoside was converted into the corresponding beta-maltoside (45%) and beta-maltotrioside (29%) by CGTase. The beta-glucoside of alpha-tocopherol, and beta-glucoside and beta-maltoside of delta-tocopherol showed inhibitory effects on IgE antibody production and on histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells.