Polysaccharides of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax ex Pax et Hoffm: Extraction, purification, structural characteristics, pharmacological activities, and structure-activity relationships: A review.
- 2025-11
- International journal of biological macromolecules 330
- Shiyong Gao
- Kaifa Ye
- Zimeng Zhang
- Weiya Wang
- Jianwen Li
- Tingting Xu
- Huixin Tan
- PubMed: 41046896
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.148082
Study Design
- Type
- Review
Pseudostellaria heterophylla polysaccharides (PHP), as the primary bioactive constituents of this traditional medicinal herb, have attracted significant research interest due to their diverse pharmacological activities. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in the extraction, purification, structural characterization, and multifaceted biological activities of PHP, with a particular emphasis on elucidating their structure-activity relationships. We highlight that specific structural features, such as molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and chemical modifications like selenization, are critically linked to PHP's immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and antitumor effects. Furthermore, the review underscores the potential applications of PHP in the pharmaceutical and functional food industries. By integrating foundational research with application-oriented perspectives, this work not only provides a comprehensive resource for further mechanistic studies but also offers a robust scientific foundation for the development of PHP-derived health products and therapeutics, thereby bridging traditional knowledge with modern biotechnological applications.