Taima is pleased to announce the commercial release of high-purity Stachyose Tetrahydrate (CAS 10094-58-3), a naturally occurring tetrasaccharide (Gal–Gal–Glc–Fru) supplied as white crystalline powder, ≥98% HPLC. As a well-characterized prebiotic in the raffinose family, Stachyose selectively ferments by Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in the colon, making it a sought-after ingredient for functional foods, probiotic formulations, animal feed additives and gut-health research. This news outlines specifications, applications and why global buyers choose Taima as their Stachyose supplier.

What Is Stachyose Tetrahydrate?

Stachyose tetrahydrate (C₂₄H₄₂O₂₁·4H₂O, MW 738.64) is the hydrated form of stachyose, a non-reducing tetrasaccharide composed of two α-D-galactose units, one α-D-glucose and one β-D-fructose, linked by α(1->6) and α(1->2) glycosidic bonds[1](@ref). It occurs naturally in Chinese artichoke (Stachys tuberifera), soybeans, mung beans and other legumes.

Key biochemical traits:

– Mild natural sweetness, clean taste profile

– Passes undigested through upper GI; fermented selectively in the colon

– Promotes proliferation of Bifidobacterium & Lactobacillus, suppresses Clostridium spp.

– Produces SCFAs (acetate, propionate, butyrate), lowers colonic pH

– Reported in vitro: dose-dependent inhibition of Caco-2 proliferation & induction of apoptosis[7](@ref)

Stachyose tetrahydrate is therefore positioned as:

– A prebiotic dietary fiber (raffinose-family oligosaccharide)

– A functional food / beverage sweetener-fiber dual-ingredient

– A fermentation carbon source for probiotic / enzyme / organic-acid industries

– A research reagent (gut microbiome, carbohydrate metabolism)

Application Scenarios

1. Functional Food & Beverage

– Dairy: yogurt, cheese, formulated milk powder (0.5 – 2.0%)[3](@ref)

– Plant-based beverages, juice, protein drinks

– Bakery: bread / cake / biscuit, partial sucrose replacement (1.0 – 3.0%)[3](@ref)

– Confectionery: gummy, hard candy (1.0 – 4.0%)

– Seasoning & sauces (0.5 – 1.5%)

– Role: prebiotic fiber + mild sweetness + moisture retention

2. Dietary Supplements / Probiotic Formulations

– Synbiotic blends (Stachyose + Bifido / Lacto strains)

– Gut-health capsules, powders, sachets

– Pediatric / elderly nutrition (soft stool, microbiota modulation)

3. Animal Feed Additive

– Swine / poultry / aquaculture: improves FCR via gut flora modulation

– Reduces ammonia emission, replaces antibiotic growth promoters (AGP-free formulas)

4. Fermentation Industry Carbon Source

– Carbon for enzyme (amylase, protease), organic acid (lactic, citric), probiotic biomass production[3](@ref)

5. Research Use

– Gut microbiome in vitro models (SHIME®, batch fermentation)

– Caco-2 / colon cancer cell studies

– Carbohydrate metabolism, α-galactosidase induction assays[7](@ref)