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Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Author Spotlight: MAPP Protocol – Advancing Glycan Analysis
Published on: September 29, 2023
Prospects of yam (Dioscorea) polysaccharides: Structural features, bioactivities and applications
Luyao Zhang1, Shirui Wang1, Weimei Zhang1
1Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300193, China.
Abstract:
Yam (Dioscorea) is a tuber crop cultivated for food security, revenue, and medicinal purposes. It has been used to treat diabetes, asthma, diarrhea, and other diseases. The main active ingredients in yam, polysaccharides, are regarded to be the important reason for its widespread applications. Now, a comprehensive review of research developments of yam polysaccharides (YPs) was presented to explore their prospects. We outlined the structural characteristics, biological activities, structure-activity relationships, and potential applications. Around 13 neutral components and 17 acidic components were separated. They exhibited various bioactivities, including immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, gastrointestinal protective, anti-fatigue, and senile disease treatment activities, as well as prebiotic effect. Structure-activity relationships illustrated that unique structural properties, chemical modifications, and carried biopolymers could influence the bioactivities of YPs. The potential applications in medicine, food, and other fields have also been summarized.
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