Biological Functions of Polysaccharides from <em>Codonopsis pilosula</em>, an Important Traditional Chinese Medicinal Crop
Listed in
This article is not in any list yet, why not save it to one of your lists.Abstract
Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides (CPPs) demonstrate remarkable pharmacological versatility across multiple therapeutic domains. CPPs exhibit potent immunomodulatory effects by activating innate and adaptive immune cells, enhancing cytokine production (IL-2, IFN-γ), and regulating key signaling pathways (NF-κB, MAPK). CPPs display significant antioxidant capacity through free radical scavenging (DPPH, ABTS⁺), upregulation of endogenous defense enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px), and activation of the Nrf2 pathway. Their anticancer potential is mediated via pro-apoptotic, anti-angiogenic, and chemosensitizing mechanisms, with structural modifications (sulfation, selenylation) further enhancing these properties. CPPs show neuroprotective efficacy by mitigating neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and amyloid-beta aggregation. They demonstrate comprehensive organoprotective actions in hepatic (anti-fibrotic), renal (creatinine reduction), and gastrointestinal systems through anti-inflammatory and barrier-strengthening mechanisms. CPPs exhibit notable metabolic benefits including antidiabetic effects via α-amylase/α-glucosidase inhibition, pancreatic β-cell protection, and insulin sensitivity improvement, along with anti-adipogenic activity that prevents lipid accumulation. CPPs promote tissue repair through wound healing acceleration and bone regeneration via Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation, VEGF upregulation, and miRNA-21 modulation - particularly in enhancing osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs while suppressing adipogenesis. Additional therapeutic benefits include antimicrobial anti-fatigue, antihypoxic, and prebiotic effects. Structural-activity relationships reveal that molecular weight, glycosidic linkages, and chemical modifications critically determine bioactivity specificity. The review highlights the dual potential of CPPs as both functional food ingredients and next-generation therapeutics.