Plant polysaccharides, also known as plant polyglucans, are polysaccharides with a polymerization degree of more than 10 produced by plant cell metabolism. Scientific research has shown that many plant polysaccharides have biological activities, providing various health benefits such as immune modulation, anti-tumor, blood sugar and lipid reduction, anti-radiation, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, and liver protection. As a result, plant polysaccharides have been widely applied in the medical, food, and other daily life fields.
1. Immune Modulation
Many plant polysaccharides can significantly enhance the phagocytic activity of macrophages and stimulate antibody production, thereby strengthening the immune function. For example, jujube polysaccharides, bamboo leaf polysaccharides, Gynostemma polysaccharides, cordyceps polysaccharides, black soybean polysaccharides, fig polysaccharides, lion’s mane mushroom polysaccharides, white atractylodes polysaccharides, windbreak polysaccharides, rehmannia polysaccharides, goji berry polysaccharides, spirulina polysaccharides, Eucommia polysaccharides, ligustrum polysaccharides, etc., all have immune-boosting effects. Polysaccharides from fungi such as cloud mushroom polysaccharides, reishi mushroom polysaccharides, Poria polysaccharides, white fungus polysaccharides, shiitake mushroom polysaccharides have been applied clinically to enhance cellular immune functions.
2. Anti-Tumor
Some polysaccharides have strong inhibitory effects on cancer cells and exhibit anti-tumor activity. For example, shiitake mushroom polysaccharides are used as an adjunctive treatment for primary liver cancer and other malignant tumors. Enoki mushroom polysaccharides, cloud mushroom polysaccharides, Poria polysaccharides, bamboo fungus polysaccharides, Poria polysaccharides also exhibit varying degrees of anti-cancer activity. Additionally, spirulina polysaccharides, white fungus polysaccharides, ginseng polysaccharides, shiitake mushroom polysaccharides, Poria polysaccharides, goji berry polysaccharides, astragalus polysaccharides, reishi polysaccharides, bamboo leaf polysaccharides, enoki mushroom polysaccharides, cordyceps polysaccharides all have anti-tumor effects.
3. Anti-Aging
Enoki mushroom polysaccharides, white fungus polysaccharides significantly reduce the content of lipofuscin in myocardial tissues and increase the activity of SOD enzymes in brain and liver tissues, thus delaying aging. Moreover, polysaccharides from Polygonum multiflorum, ginseng, astragalus, ligustrum also show certain anti-aging effects.
4. Anti-Radiation
With the modernization of science and technology and the increasing use of electronic devices, people are exposed to more radiation, especially cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy and workers exposed to radiation. Animal experiments have shown that astragalus polysaccharides, ginseng polysaccharides, angelica polysaccharides, bupleurum polysaccharides, reishi polysaccharides, goji berry polysaccharides, rhodiola polysaccharides, cordyceps polysaccharides, aloe polysaccharides, spirulina polysaccharides, eleutherococcus polysaccharides, cloud mushroom polysaccharides, wood ear polysaccharides can protect mice from radiation damage.
5. Blood Sugar and Lipid Reduction
Some plant polysaccharides have blood sugar-lowering and lipid-lowering effects. For instance, pumpkin polysaccharides have been confirmed to reduce blood sugar and blood lipids, showing ideal effects in preventing and treating diabetes. Animal experiments indicate that black fungus polysaccharides can significantly reduce cholesterol levels in mice, while kelp polysaccharides significantly lower blood sugar and urea nitrogen in diabetic mice and repair pancreatic damage. White fungus polysaccharides, tea polysaccharides, konjac polysaccharides can reduce both blood sugar and blood lipids. Other polysaccharides with blood sugar-lowering effects include guava polysaccharides, ginseng polysaccharides, aconite polysaccharides, anemarrhena polysaccharides, Atractylodes polysaccharides, coix seed polysaccharides, yam polysaccharides, ephedra polysaccharides, eleutherococcus polysaccharides, purple grass polysaccharides, mulberry bark polysaccharides, rice root polysaccharides, rice bran polysaccharides, sugarcane polysaccharides, astragalus polysaccharides, reishi polysaccharides, nori polysaccharides, kombu polysaccharides, Ophiopogon polysaccharides, Grifola frondosa polysaccharides, black fungus polysaccharides.
Common Plant Polysaccharides
Common plant polysaccharides include tea polysaccharides, goji polysaccharides, konjac mannan, ginkgo leaf polysaccharides, seaweed polysaccharides, shiitake mushroom polysaccharides, white fungus polysaccharides, reishi polysaccharides, black fungus polysaccharides, Poria polysaccharides, etc. These plant polysaccharides have significant regulatory and disease-preventing functions.
