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Comparative Study on the Polysaccharide Contents and Antioxidant Activities of Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. sinensis and Hippophae gyantsensis
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Anti-Obesity Mechanisms of Plant and Fungal Polysaccharides: The Impact of Structural Diversity

Guihong Fang1, Baolian Li1, Li Zhu1

  • 1Heinz Mehlhorn Academician Workstation, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Hainan Academy of Medical Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China.

Biomolecules
|August 28, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Plant and fungal polysaccharides offer promising natural alternatives for obesity management. These compounds demonstrate multifaceted benefits, including improved metabolic health and gut microbiota modulation, addressing limitations of conventional therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Metabolic Syndrome
  • Natural Product Therapeutics

Background:

  • Obesity is a complex metabolic syndrome influenced by genetic and environmental factors, leading to pathological adipocyte hyperplasia and ectopic lipid deposition.
  • Conventional anti-obesity therapies often exhibit transient efficacy and adverse effects, necessitating the exploration of alternative treatments.
  • Plant and fungal polysaccharides are emerging as potential therapeutic agents due to their diverse biological activities and prebiotic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted role of plant and fungal polysaccharides in alleviating obesity symptoms and complications.
  • To summarize current knowledge on the anti-obesity properties of these natural compounds.
  • To highlight their regulatory effects, potential intervention pathways, and structure-function relationships for obesity management.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of cellular and animal models investigating the effects of plant and fungal polysaccharides on obesity-related mechanisms.
  • Analysis of studies detailing the impact of these polysaccharides on blood glucose, inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic signaling, nutrient absorption, and gut microbiota composition.
  • Synthesis of information on structure-function relationships and potential intervention pathways.

Main Results:

  • Plant and fungal polysaccharides demonstrate significant potential in reducing blood glucose levels, alleviating inflammation and oxidative stress, and modulating metabolic signaling pathways.
  • These compounds can inhibit nutrient absorption and beneficially reshape gut microbial composition, contributing to anti-obesity effects.
  • Evidence from cellular and animal models supports the efficacy of these polysaccharides in addressing mechanisms underlying obesity.

Conclusions:

  • Plant and fungal polysaccharides represent a promising avenue for obesity management, offering natural, multifaceted therapeutic benefits.
  • Understanding their regulatory effects and structure-function relationships can pave the way for novel polysaccharide-based obesity interventions.
  • These natural compounds provide a valuable alternative or adjunct to conventional therapies, addressing limitations in efficacy and safety.
Keywords:
intestinal floramechanismobesityplant polysaccharidestructure–activity relationship

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