The antioxidant activity of polysaccharides: A structure-function relationship overview

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Carbohydrate Chemistry
• Food Science

Background:

• Polysaccharides from diverse sources are increasingly recognized for antioxidant effects.
• Reported antioxidant polysaccharides include chitosan, glucans, alginates, and fucoidans.
• Structural features like charge and molecular weight are linked to antioxidant activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate the structure-function relationships of polysaccharides as antioxidants.
• To address how secondary phenomena and contaminants can bias antioxidant assessments.
• To clarify the precise role of polysaccharides in antioxidant systems.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on polysaccharide chemistry and antioxidant activity.
• Analysis of structure-property relationships influencing antioxidant potential.
• Discussion of common methodologies and potential sources of error in antioxidant screening.

Main Results:

• Polysaccharide antioxidant action depends on solubility, sugar structure, molecular weight, charge, and substituents.
• Protein and phenolic compound contaminants can lead to inaccurate antioxidant assessments.
• Secondary phenomena can significantly alter polysaccharide behavior in antioxidant systems.

Conclusions:

• The antioxidant capacity of polysaccharides is intrinsically linked to their fine structure and physicochemical properties.
• Contaminants and experimental conditions can confound the interpretation of polysaccharide antioxidant activity.
• A clear definition of polysaccharide function within specific matrices is crucial for accurate understanding.