Tunning the hydrophobic performance and thermal stability of pectin film by acetic anhydride esterification.

Pectin, a polysaccharide found in plant cell walls, is characterized by a high abundance of hydroxyl groups and carboxylic acid groups, which results in a strong affinity for water and limits its suitability as a film material. This study aimed to modulate the esterification degree of PEC films by adjusting the concentration of acetic anhydride, and assess the impact of acetic anhydride esterification modification on the properties of the resultant PEC films. The results demonstrated successful grafting of acetic anhydride onto the galacturonic acid ring in the PEC molecule through the esterification process. The hydrophobicity, thermal stability, barrier properties, and mechanical properties of the esterified PEC films were investigated. Among the various concentrations tested, the E-PEC-0.25 film exhibited the highest contact angle of 103.46° and tensile strength of 33.44 MPa, showcasing optimal performance. The E-PEC-0.1 film achieved the highest esterification degree of 0.94 and elongation at a break of 21.11 %. It also exhibited the transparency of 11.66 and the lowest water vapor transmission rate of 0.56 g·mm/(m2·h·kpa). Additionally, TGA and DSC tests revealed enhanced thermal stability of the esterification-prepared films. These findings highlight the potential of acetic anhydride tuning as a promising strategy for optimizing pectin film production.

Structural characteristics of a polysaccharide from Armillariella tabescens and its protective effect on colitis mice via regulating gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function.

A new polysaccharide fraction (ATP) was obtained from Armillariella tabescens mycelium. Structural analysis suggested that the backbone of ATP was →4)-α-D-Glcp(1 â†’ 2)-α-D-Galp(1 â†’ 2)-α-D-Glcp(1 â†’ 4)-α-D-Glcp(1→, which branched at O-3 of →2)-α-D-Glcp(1 â†’ and terminated with T-α-D-Glcp or T-α-D-Manp. Besides, ATP significantly alleviated ulcerative colitis (UC) symptoms and inhibited the production of pro-inflammation cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6). Meanwhile, ATP could improve colon tissue damage by elevating the expression of MUC2 and tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin and claudin-1) levels and enhance intestinal barrier function through inhibiting the activation of MMP12/MLCK/p-MLC2 signaling pathway. Further studies exhibited that ATP could increase the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as f. Muribaculacese, g. Muribaculaceae, and g. Alistips, and decrease the relative abundance of g. Desulfovibrio, g. Colidextribacter, g. Ruminococcaceae and g.Oscillibacter, and regulate the level of short-chain fatty acids. Importantly, FMT intervention with ATP-derived microbiome certified that gut microbiota was involved in the protective effects of ATP on UC. The results indicated that ATP was potential to be further developed into promising therapeutic agent for UC.

Surface-Engineered Polygonatum Sibiricum Polysaccharide CaCO3 Microparticles as Novel Vaccine Adjuvants to Enhance Immune Response.

Micro- and nanoparticles delivery systems have been widely studied as vaccine adjuvants to enhance immunogenicity and sustain long-term immune responses. Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide (PSP) has been widely studied as an immunoregulator in improving immune responses. In this study, we synthesized and characterized cationic modified calcium carbonate (CaCO3) microparticles loaded with PSP (PEI-PSP-CaCO3, CTAB-PSP-CaCO3), studied the immune responses elicited by PEI-PSP-CaCO3 and CTAB-PSP-CaCO3 carrying ovalbumin (OVA). Our results demonstrated that PEI-PSP-CaCO3 significantly enhanced the secretion of IgG and cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) in vaccinated mice. Additionally, PEI-PSP-CaCO3 induced the activation of dendritic cells (DCs), T cells, and germinal center (GC) B cells in draining lymph nodes (dLNs). It also enhanced lymphocyte proliferation, increased the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells, and elevated the frequency of CD3+ CD69+ T cells in spleen lymphocytes. Therefore, PEI-PSP-CaCO3 microparticles induced a stronger cellular and humoral immune response and could be potentially useful as a vaccine delivery and adjuvant system.

Reductant-independent oxidative cleavage of cellulose by a novel marine fungal lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase.

Among the enzymes derived from fungus that act on polysaccharides, lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMOs) has emerged as a new member with complex reaction mechanisms and high efficiency in dealing with recalcitrant crystalline polysaccharides. This study reported the characteristics, structure, and biochemical properties of a novel LPMO from Talaromyces sedimenticola (namely MaLPMO9K) obtained from the Mariana Trench. MaLPMO9K was a multi-domain protein combined with main body and a carbohydrate-binding module. It was heterologously expressed in E. coli for analyzing peroxidase activity in reactions with the substrate 2,6-DMP, where H2O2 serves as a co-substrate. Optimal peroxidase activity for MaLPMO9K was observed at pH 8 and 25 °C, achieving the best Vmax value of 265.2 U·g-1. In addition, MaLPMO9K also demonstrated the ability to treat cellulose derivatives, and cellobiose substrates without the presence of reducing agents.

Investigating the Anticancer Effects of Pleurotus Ostreatus Polysaccharide on G0/G1 Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Cells.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Despite the advancement of cancer treatment by various means including surgery, chemotherapy, etc., cancer is still a challenging disease to manage. This study was undertaken to investigate extraction, purification, structural elucidation, and the potential anti-cancer effects of Pleurotus ostreatus polysaccharide (POP). The anti-cancer activities were performed on the Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Cell Line. The results demonstrated that the MW of  POP was154649.8 Da with homopolysaccharide composed of D-glucose units, featuring (1→6)-α-D-Glcp backbone with O-6 branches and T-α-D-Glcp terminations. and the yield was 6.27%. was 6.27%, The antitumor activity assessment demonstrated significant cytotoxicity of POP against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cells, with an IC50 of 121.801 µg/mL, supported by LDH release analysis. POP inhibited cell migration, invasion, and colony formation, indicating its potential as an anti-cancer agent. POP elicited the apoptotic activity with the upregulation of Caspase-9 and Bax, and downregulation of Bcl-2. The DNA fragmentation assay further confirmed apoptosis-mediated DNA degradations. Additionally, POP-induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, by altering the expression of p53, Cyclin D, and Cdk4 proteins. So, Pleurotus ostreatus polysaccharide (POP) showed significant cytotoxicity on Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma cells, indicating potential as an anti-cancer agent.

Evaluation of candidate International Standards for meningococcal capsular polysaccharide groups W and Y.

Two candidate International Standards for meningococcal capsular group W and Y (MenW and MenY, respectively) polysaccharides were assessed for their suitability as quantitative standards in various physicochemical assays. The study was designed to evaluate the intended purpose of these standards, namely, to standardize the quantification of the respective polysaccharide content in meningococcal polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines and their intermediate components. Twelve laboratories from eleven different countries participated in the collaborative study of candidate preparations for International Standards for MenW and MenY polysaccharide (coded 16/152 and 16/206, respectively). Unitage was assigned using the Resorcinol assay. Our proposals, on the basis of data from the Resorcinol assay were: 1) candidate standard for MenW polysaccharide (16/152) to be assigned a content of 1.015 ± 0.071 mg MenW polysaccharide per ampoule (expanded uncertainty with coverage factor k = 2.13, corresponding to a 95 % level of confidence) and 2) candidate standard for MenY polysaccharide (16/206) be assigned a content of 0.958 ± 0.076 mg MenY polysaccharide per ampoule (expanded uncertainty with coverage factor k = 2.26, corresponding to a 95 % level of confidence). The amount of polysaccharide per ampoule remained consistent under all stability conditions over a 36-month period.

Bacterial glycoengineering: Cell-based and cell-free routes for producing biopharmaceuticals with customized glycosylation.

Glycosylation plays a pivotal role in tuning the folding and function of proteins. Because most human therapeutic proteins are glycosylated, understanding and controlling glycosylation is important for the design, optimization, and manufacture of biopharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, natural eukaryotic glycosylation pathways are complex and often produce heterogeneous glycan patterns, making the production of glycoproteins with chemically precise and homogeneous glycan structures difficult. To overcome these limitations, bacterial glycoengineering has emerged as a simple, cost-effective, and scalable approach to produce designer glycoprotein therapeutics and vaccines in which the glycan structures are engineered to reduce heterogeneity and improve biological and biophysical attributes of the protein. Here, we discuss recent advances in bacterial cell-based and cell-free glycoengineering that have enabled the production of biopharmaceutical glycoproteins with customized glycan structures.

State-of-the-art progress on locust bean gum polysaccharide for sustainable food packaging and drug delivery applications: A review with prospectives.

Locust bean gum (LBG), a polysaccharide-based natural polymer, is being widely researched as an appropriate additive for various products, including food, gluten-free formulations, medicines, paper, textiles, oil well drilling, cosmetics, and medical uses. Drug delivery vehicles, packaging, batteries, and catalytic supports are all popular applications for biopolymer-based materials. This review discusses sustainable food packaging and drug delivery applications for LBG. Given the benefits of LBG polysaccharide as a source of dietary fiber, it is also being investigated as a potential treatment for many health disorders, including colorectal cancer, diabetes, and gastrointestinal difficulties. The flexibility of LBG polysaccharide allows it to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, a crucial characteristic of biomaterials, and the film-forming properties of LBG are critical for food packaging applications. The extraction process of LBG plays an important role in properties such as viscosity and gel-forming properties. Moreover, there are multiple factors such as temperature, pressure, pH, etc. The LBG-based functional composite film is effective in improving the shelf life as well as monitoring the freshness of fruits, meat and other processed food. The LBG-based hydrogel is excellent carrier of drugs and can be used for slow and sustainable release of active components present in drugs. Thus, the primary goal of this review was to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the literature with a focus on the composition, properties, processing, food packaging, and medicine delivery applications of LBG polysaccharides. Thus, we investigated the chemical composition, extraction, and characteristics of LBG polysaccharides that underlie their applications in the food packaging and medicine delivery fields.

Anti-inflammation mechanisms of a homogeneous polysaccharide from Phyllanthus emblica L. on DSS induced colitis mice via the gut microbiota and metabolites alteration.

Phyllanthus emblica L. offers promising therapeutic potential for inflammatory diseases. This study revealed the molecular structure of a homogeneous polysaccharide purified from Phyllanthus emblica L. (PEP-1) and evaluated its anti-inflammatory effects on ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. In the in vivo experiment, administered in varying dosages to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC models, PEP-1 significantly alleviated colonic symptoms, histological damages and reshaped the gut microbiota. Notably, it adjusted the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and reduced pro-inflammatory species, closely aligning with shifts in the fecal metabolites and metabolic pathways such as the metabolism of pyrimidine, beta-alanine, and purine. These findings underscore the potential of PEP-1 as a therapeutic agent for UC, providing insights into the mechanisms through gut microbiota and metabolic modulation.

Intracellular Polysaccharides of Eurotium cristatum Exhibited Anticolitis Effects in Association with Gut Tryptophan Metabolism.

This study is to investigate the protective effects of Eurotium cristatum intracellular polysaccharides (ECIP) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC). The oral administration of ECIP could downregulate the disease activity index (DAI) and ameliorate the colonic shortening, immune stress, and damage caused by DSS. In addition, ECIP treatment increased the colonic contents of SCFAs including acetic, propionic, and butyric acids in UC mice. Targeted and untargeted metabolic analysis suggested that ECIP dramatically altered the tryptophan metabolism in the feces of UC mice and promoted the conversion of tryptophan into indole metabolites including indolepyruvate and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indolealdehyde (IAId). Moreover, ECIP observably increased the content of colonic IL-22 and stimulated the relative concentration and relative expression of tight junction molecules in mRNA and proteins levels. Conclusively, consumption of ECIP can improve colon damage and its related effects of UC by promoting the production of IAA and IAId to reinforce intestinal barriers.

Structural analysis of Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharide and its regulatory functions on T cells subsets in tumor-bearing mice combined with thymopentin.

Salvia miltiorrhiza ethanol-extracted polysaccharide (SMEP) and thymopentin (TP5) have been proved with strong immunomodulatory activity, and T cells subsets play pivotal roles in the inhibition of solid tumors growth. In the present study, the structure of SMEP was further identified via methylation and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, and the immunomodulatory activity in combination with TP5 was investigated via evaluating T cell subsets spatial distributions in tumor-bearing mice, finally the cellular status of solid tumor cells was analyzed. The results revealed that SMEP was a neutral heteropolysaccharide using (1 â†’ 4)-α-D-Glcp and (2 â†’ 1)-ß-D-Fruf as the main chain, along with branched chains of (1 â†’ 6)-α-D-Galp. The SMEP+TP5 treatments could effectively promote the differentiation and improve the specific recognition capacity of CD4+ T cells in tumor-bearing mice, thereby activate tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells to exert cytotoxic effects, finally promoting the tumor cells apoptosis via blocking cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, which might be relevant with suppression of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. These findings highlighted the potential of SMEP as an immunoadjuvant for patients bearing immune-deficiency related diseases, and provided data support for the functional researches of T cell subsets in tumor immunity.

Ginkgo biloba leaf polysaccharide-stabled selenium nanozyme as an efficient glutathione peroxidase mimic for the preservation of bananas and cherry tomatoes.

To develop functional, sustainable and eco-friendly active packaging materials as alternatives to plastic films, we successfully prepared Ginkgo biloba leaf polysaccharide-stabilized selenium nanomaterials (Se-GBLP). Se-GBLP with glutathione peroxidase-like activity could efficiently remove harmful reactive oxygen species. As a functional additive, Se-GBLP was incorporated into degradable chitosan (CS) to fabricate CS/Se-GBLP films. The addition of Se-GBLP improved the mechanical properties, UV-visible light barrier performance, water vapor permeability, and antioxidant activity of the films. Preservation experiments demonstrated CS/Se-GBLP film could maintain quality and prolong the storage time of bananas and cherry tomatoes. It was the first time to use selenium-based nanozyme for fruit preservation. This work offered a cost-effective solution to reduce post-harvest losses, increasing sustainability and profitability. Future research should focus on more factors affecting freshness such as variety, maturity, harvest and storage conditions to improve preservation, as well as on the material's safety concern and environmental impact.

Effective reduction of carbon-containing pollutants in coffee cherry pulping wastewater using natural polysaccharide from Tamarindus indica L. seeds.

The wastewater produced during coffee cherry pulping is known for containing harmful pollutants, particularly organic compounds containing carbon, which pose significant risks to the environment and human health. This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Tamarindus indica L. seed polysaccharides in treating coffee effluent. Varying doses (ranging from 0.05 to 0.30 g) of the isolated polysaccharides were added to samples of the effluent to determine their ability to remove contaminants, especially those of organic carbon origin. Notably, a dosage of 0.10 g demonstrated optimal efficacy, resulting in a 55% decrease in total dissolved solids and an 80% decrease in chemical oxygen demand. Additionally, Fourier-transform infrared and zeta potential analysis of both the polysaccharides and the treated effluent samples revealed the presence of functional groups potentially pivotal for the pollutant removal activity of the isolated polysaccharides. This provides insights into the coagulation mechanism of Tamarindus indica L. seed polysaccharides in eliminating organic carbon-based pollutants. These findings highlight the potential of Tamarindus polysaccharides as a sustainable alternative to chemical agents for removing pollutants, thus promoting environmental sustainability and human well-being.

Anti-hepatoma immunotherapy of Pholiota adiposa polysaccharide-coated selenium nanoparticles by reversing M2-like tumor-associated macrophage polarization.

Targeting macrophages to regulate the tumor microenvironment is a promising strategy for treating cancer. This study developed a stable nano drug (PAP-SeNPs) using Se nanoparticles (SeNPs) and the Pholiota adiposa polysaccharide component (PAP-1a) and reported their physical stability, M2-like macrophages targeting efficacy and anti-hepatoma immunotherapy potential, as well as their molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, the zero-valent and well-dispersed spherical PAP-SeNPs were also successfully synthesized with an average size of 55.84 nm and a negative ζ-potential of -51.45 mV. Moreover, it was observed that the prepared PAP-SeNPs were stable for 28 days at 4 °C. Intravital imaging highlighted that PAP-SeNPs had the dual effect of targeting desirable immune organs and tumors. In vitro analyses showed that the PAP-SeNPs polarized M2-like macrophages towards the M1 phenotype to induce hepatoma cell death, triggered by the time-dependent lysosomal endocytosis in macrophages. Mechanistically, PAP-SeNPs significantly activated the Tlr4/Myd88/NF-κB axis to transform tumor-promoting macrophages into tumor-inhibiting macrophages and successfully initiated antitumor immunotherapy. Furthermore, PAP-SeNPs also enhanced CD3+CD4+ T cells and CD3+CD8+ T cells, thereby further stimulating anti-hepatoma immune responses. These results suggest that the developed PAP-SeNPs is a promising immunostimulant that can assist hepatoma therapy.

Effects of dietary ginger (Zingiber officinale) polysaccharide on the growth, antioxidant, immunity response, intestinal microbiota, and disease resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in crucian carp (Carassius auratus).

Ginger polysaccharides (GP) promote growth and development in fish. However, the effects of GP on crucian carp remain unclear. The present study investigated the effects of GP on the growth performance, immunity, intestinal microbiota, and disease resistance in crucian carp. Four treatment groups were established with different concentrations of GP (0.1 %, 0.2 %, 0.4 %, and 0.8 %). GP was not added as the control group, and the feeding period lasted for 56 d, followed by a 96-h anti-infection treatment using Aeromonas hydrophila. The results showed that dietary GP significantly improved growth performance, especially in the 0.4 % GP group. Furthermore, GP administration notably increased serum lysozyme (LMZ) activity, digestive enzyme performance, and antioxidant capacity of crucian carp. Moreover, dietary inclusion of GP up-regulated the expression of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) genes while down-regulating IL-10 and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) gene expressions, thus promoting liver health in crucian carp. Additionally, incorporating GP into the diet regulated both the diversity and composition of the intestinal microbiota in crucian carp, explicitly enhancing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Fusobacteriota and Firmicutes. Therefore, GP reduces the mortality of crucian carp infected with A. hydrophila. In conclusion, this study provides novel insights into the application of dietary GP in cultured fish and evaluates the value of traditional Chinese medicinal polysaccharides against pathogenic bacteria.

Effect of Flammulina velutipes polysaccharide on mitochondrial apoptosis in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.

FVP is a polysaccharide extracted from Flammulina velutipes with immunomodulatory, anti-tumor, and anti-oxidation activities. In this study, we obtained the crude polysaccharide FVP-C from the water extract of Flammulina velutipes, and its main component FVP-S1 was obtained after further purification. Upon structural identification, we found that FVP-C is a neutral polysaccharide, and FVP-S1 was an acidic golden mushroom polysaccharide, consisting of glucuronic acid, xylose, and glucose. Lung adenocarcinoma (A549) was treated with FVP-S1 and FVP-C, respectively, and we found that FVP-S1 and FVP-C inhibited the proliferation and migration ability of tumor cells, as well as changed the morphology of the tumor cells and caused chromosome sheteropythosis, among which FVP-S1 had the best inhibition effect. The results of flow cytometry experiments and mitochondrial membrane potential, RT-qPCR, and Western blot showed that FVP-S1 and FVP-C were able to decrease the mitochondrial membrane potential, increase the expression level of apoptotic proteins Casepase-3 and Casepase-9 proteins, and at the same time, increase the ratio of Bax and Bcl-2, which promoted apoptosis of tumor cells. In conclusion, these data indicated that FVP-S1 and FVP-C were able to induce apoptosis in A549 cells through the mitochondrial pathway, which played an important role in inhibiting tumor cells.

Isolation Techniques, Structural Characteristics, and Pharmacological Effects of Phellinus Polysaccharides: A Review.

Phellinus is a precious perennial medicinal fungus. Its polysaccharides are important bioactive components, and their chemical composition is complex. The polysaccharides are mainly extracted from the fruiting body and mycelium. The yield of the polysaccharides is dependent on the extraction method. They have many pharmacological activities, such as antitumor, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, etc. They are also reported to show minor toxic and side effects. Many studies have reported the anticancer activity of Phellinus polysaccharides. This review paper provides a comprehensive examination of the current methodologies for the extraction and purification of Phellinus polysaccharides. Additionally, it delves into the structural characteristics, pharmacological activities, and mechanisms of action of these polysaccharides. The primary aim of this review is to offer a valuable resource for researchers, facilitating further studies on Phellinus polysaccharides and their potential applications.

Polysaccharides as Quality Marker to Rapid Profile for Ophiocordyceps sinensis by PXRD.

BACKGROUND: Ophiocordyceps sinensis has long been recognized as a mysterious and valuable traditional Chinese medicine but there has been little research on quality markers for O. sinensis. PURPOSE: This study looked into the potential of using powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD) to analyze polysaccharides as a quality marker for O. sinensis. STUDY DESIGN: There were 16 different habitats of O. sinensis collected in Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet. In addition, five different types of Cordyceps species were collected. The characteristic diffraction peaks of O. sinensis were determined and then matched with the characteristic diffraction peaks of intracellular polysaccharides obtained from O. sinensis to determine the attribution relationship of the characteristic diffraction peaks. METHODS: O. sinensis powder's X-ray diffraction pattern is determined by its composition, microcrystalline crystal structure, intramolecular bonding mechanism, and molecular configuration. After fractionation and alcohol precipitation of crude intracellular polysaccharide, mycelium crude intracellular polysaccharide (MCP) and fruiting body crude intracellular polysaccharide (FCP) were obtained and the fingerprint of O. sinensis was identified by the specific characteristic peaks of the X-ray diffraction pattern from intracellular polysaccharide. RESULTS: The results indicated that the PXRD patterns of different populations of O. sinensis were overlaid well with 18 characteristic diffraction peaks obtained by microcrystalline diffraction. Moreover, the powder diffractograms as a fingerprint provided a practical identification of O. sinensis from other Cordyceps species. In addition, we detected that the powder diffractograms of intracellular polysaccharide MCP and MCP75 could be coupled with the PXRD of O. sinensis. Specifically, 18 characteristic diffraction peaks were identified as coming from MCP and MCP75 according to those interplanar crystal spacing, which matched well with those of PXRD of O. sinensis. CONCLUSIONS: PXRD spectra combined with an updated multivariable discriminant model were found to be an efficient and sensitive method for O. sinensis quality control. According to the findings of this study, PXRD should be further investigated for quality control assessments and plant extract selection trials.

How the Chemical Properties of Polysaccharides Make It Possible to Design Various Types of Organic-Inorganic Composites for Catalytic Applications.

Recently, the use of plant-origin materials has become especially important due to the aggravation of environmental problems and the shortage and high cost of synthetic materials. One of the potential candidates among natural organic compounds is polysaccharides, characterized by a number of advantages over synthetic polymers. In recent years, natural polysaccharides have been used to design composite catalysts for various organic syntheses. This review is devoted to the current state of application of polysaccharides (chitosan, starch, pectin, cellulose, and hydroxyethylcellulose) and composites based on their catalysis. The article is divided into four main sections based on the type of polysaccharide: (1) chitosan-based nanocomposites; (2) pectin-based nanocomposites; (3) cellulose (hydroxyethylcellulose)-based nanocomposites; and (4) starch-based nanocomposites. Each section describes and summarizes recent studies on the preparation and application of polysaccharide-containing composites in various chemical transformations. It is shown that by modifying polysaccharides, polymers with special properties can be obtained, thus expanding the range of biocomposites for catalytic applications.

Polysaccharides from Medicinal Plants: Bridging Ancestral Knowledge with Contemporary Science.

Plants are a core part of cultural identity, as part of a diet, decorations, ceremonies, or as medicinal agents. Empirical knowledge regarding plants and their healing potential has existed worldwide for centuries. With the advance of science and technology, not only is the refinement of such sources or isolation of specific compounds possible, but these compounds can also be characterized based on their natural occurrence. Besides their importance for plant metabolism and structure, polysaccharides have been demonstrated to have substantial positive human health impacts on inflammation, metabolism, oxidative stress, and others. As an inherent part of plant cell walls, many polysaccharides from medicinal herbs, such as fructans, glucans, and pectins, have been extracted and analyzed for their structure and function. However, a review summarizing a significant portion of these studies was still unavailable. This review helps to fill the knowledge gap between polysaccharide bioactivity, their structure, and their plant matrix sources, focusing on historical medicinal usage.