A review on Moringa oleifera polysaccharides: Extraction, purification, structure-activity, bioactivities and...

Moringa oleifera, a versatile plant widely recognized for its nutritional and medicinal properties, has attracted significant attention for its rich polysaccharide content and diverse biological activities. This review offers a holistic analysis of the extraction, characterization, and health implications of M. oleifera polysaccharides (MOPs). The yield and bioactivity of the polysaccharides are heavily influenced by numerous extraction methods such as hot water extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, and ultrasound-assisted extraction, which have been employed to isolate MOPs. The structural characteristics of MOPs, such as glycosidic linkages, monosaccharide composition and molecular weight are crucial to determine their biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, prebiotic, and immunomodulatory activities. Besides that, MOPs also exhibit potential therapeutic benefits to deal with metabolic disorders, enhancing gut health, and modulating immune responses, therefore solidifying their potential as functional food ingredients or nutraceuticals. This review highlights recent advancements in the extraction and purification techniques of MOPs and explores their structure-activity relationships to bioactivities as well as potential applications in health and disease management.