Extraction, purification, structural features and biological activities of the Opuntia dillenii polysaccharides: A...

Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw. is a traditional Chinese medicine with dual use as food and medicine, possessing significant potential for research and development. Modern studies have demonstrated that polysaccharides, one of the primary active components of Opuntia dillenii polysaccharides (ODPs), exhibit a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities. These include immunomodulation, antioxidant properties, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, anticancer activity, DNA damage prevention, hepatoprotection, cartilage tissue repair, and arthritis treatment. As a result, ODPs have gained considerable attention for their application in biomedicine and functional foods. However, clinical translation and industrial market development of polysaccharides derived from ODPs face substantial challenges due to limited understanding of their isolation methods, bioactivity, structural conformations, and applications. This review compiles information on the distribution, bioactivities, and toxicity of polysaccharides from ODPs, as available in the current literature. By synthesizing data from various databases, this article aims to offer theoretical insights and technical guidance to support the development of ODPs as innovative functional foods.