Extraction techniques, structural features, structure-activity relationships and mechanisms of Imperata cylindrica...

Imperata cylindrica has become a highly regarded herb in traditional medicine due to its outstanding environmental adaptability and rich medicinal value. As a major bioactive component of I. cylindrica, Imperata cylindrica polysaccharides (ICPs) have attracted increasing interest due to their structural heterogeneity and pleiotropic biological activities. Existing evidence indicates that ICPs exhibit a wide range of biological activities, including antioxidant, immunomodulatory, metabolic regulatory, and renoprotective effects, all of which are closely related to chronic metabolic diseases, especially hyperuricemic nephropathy. Although ICPs offer considerable potential in biomedicine and are considered ideal functional food ingredients, a systematic and comprehensive review is still lacking. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the extraction, purification, and structural characterization of ICPs, with particular emphasis on their structure-activity relationships, biological functions, and application prospects. In addition, the multi-target mechanisms through which ICPs exert beneficial effects in hyperuricemic nephropathy are discussed. Potential avenues for the utilization of ICPs in functional food formulations, biomedicine, and industrial applications are also explored, collectively providing a theoretical basis for future research and downstream product development.