Research progress on extraction and purification, structural characteristics, biological activities, and applications...

Millettia speciosa Champ (M. speciosa), a well-known medicinal and edible plant, is traditionally used for tonifying deficiency, moistening the lungs, and strengthening tendons while promoting blood circulation. Modern investigations have revealed that M. speciosa contains diverse bioactive constituents, including alkaloids, polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and flavonoids. Accumulating evidence indicates that polysaccharides derived from M. speciosa (MSCPs) represent a class of characteristic pharmacologically active macromolecules. MSCPs exhibit a wide range of biological activities both in vitro and in vivo, such as immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, gut microbiota-regulating, and anti-fatigue effects. This review aims to comprehensively and systematically integrate recent advances in the extraction and purification methods, structural characteristics, biological activities, and underlying mechanisms of action, as well as the potential industrial applications of MSCPs in medicine and functional foods. Overall, this review provides a theoretical foundation for the further development and application of MSCPs in the pharmaceutical and health food industries.