Polygonatum odoratum polysaccharides: A comprehensive review of bioaccumulation, extraction, structure characteristics, bioactivities and application.

Polygonatum odoratum polysaccharides (POPs) are the key bioactive components of Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce, a medicinal and edible plant with over two millennia of documented use in traditional Chinese medicine. POPs exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as hypoglycemic, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and gut microbiota-modulation effects. A comprehensive review was conducted on the bioaccumulation, extraction, purification, structural characterization, biological activities, structure-activity relationships and applications of POPs, aiming to provide valuable insights for basic research and their development as health foods and therapeutic agents. Furthermore, we highlight current challenges in the fundamental research and practical application of POPs, discuss potential solutions in depth, and outline future research directions and product development prospects.