Polygonatum polysaccharides: structure-dependent gut microbiota modulation, SCFA-mediated mechanisms, and systematic...

Dietary polysaccharide-gut microbiota interactions form a critical foundation of precision nutrition by shaping microbial ecology, metabolic outputs, and host systemic health. Polygonatum sibiricum is a traditional medicinal and edible plant rich in Polygonatum polysaccharides (PPs), which exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities. Despite increasing evidence for these bioactivities, the mechanistic relationships linking PPs structural characteristics with specific gut microbiota responses, defined metabolic outputs, and downstream host signaling pathways remain poorly integrated. Recent studies indicate that PPs can modulate gut microbiota composition and function by selectively enriching beneficial bacteria and enhancing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. These microbial metabolites act as key signaling mediators regulating host immunity and metabolic homeostasis through G protein-coupled receptors and related pathways. However, the influence of PPs molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, branching architecture, and glycosidic linkages on microbial selectivity and metabolic specificity has not been systematically elucidated, limiting the rational design of PP-based interventions. To address these gaps, this review proposes a four-level regulatory framework, 'PPs structure-microbiota targets-SCFA pathways-host health,' which integrates PP structural features with microbiota modulation, SCFA-mediated signaling, and health outcomes, providing a theoretical basis for the precise development of PP-based functional foods and therapeutic agents. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.