Plant Polysaccharides

Plant polysaccharides are complex carbohydrate polymers extracted from botanical sources such as algae, fungi, seeds, and medicinal plants. They include pectins, cellulose derivatives, hemicellulose, gums, β-glucans, and bioactive polysaccharides with immunomodulatory or antioxidant properties. These molecules are widely used in pharmaceuticals, food science, biomaterials, and traditional medicine. Their functional roles range from thickening and stabilizing agents to drug carriers and biological response modifiers. High structural diversity requires precise characterization of molecular weight, branching patterns, and monosaccharide composition. Plant polysaccharides support applications in wound healing, controlled-release formulations, metabolic health, and immune enhancement.