An Insight into Antihyperlipidemic Effects of Polysaccharides from Natural Resources

Author: mycolabadmin
2022-03-15
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Summary

This research examines how natural sugar compounds (polysaccharides) from sources like mushrooms and plants can help lower unhealthy blood fats. Unlike current medications that can harm the liver or cause stomach problems, these natural compounds offer a safer alternative for treating high cholesterol and related conditions. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides safer alternatives to traditional cholesterol medications • Offers potential for new dietary supplements and functional foods to manage blood fats • Helps understand how natural food components can improve health • Suggests ways to prevent heart disease through dietary choices • Could lead to development of more effective and safer treatments for high cholesterol

Background

Hyperlipidemia is a chronic metabolic disease caused by abnormal lipoprotein metabolism, characterized by increased serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein and decreased high-density lipoprotein. While current hypolipidemic drugs are effective, they have side effects including liver damage and digestive tract discomfort. Natural polysaccharides have shown therapeutic potential for hyperlipidemia but lack comprehensive understanding.

Objective

To review and summarize the research progress of natural polysaccharides in reducing blood lipids, including their pharmacological mechanisms, targets, and structure-activity relationships. This review aims to help understand the value of polysaccharides in lowering blood lipids and provide guidance for developing new hypolipidemic drugs.

Results

Natural polysaccharides demonstrate multiple mechanisms for lowering blood lipids including: inhibiting absorption of exogenous lipids, affecting lipid transport/distribution, influencing endogenous lipid synthesis/metabolism, antioxidant effects, regulating intestinal microbes, modulating inflammation pathways, activating AMPK signaling, and improving insulin resistance. The effectiveness is related to polysaccharide structure characteristics like molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, glycosidic bonds, and sulfate content.

Conclusion

Natural polysaccharides show significant potential as safe and effective agents for treating hyperlipidemia through multiple mechanisms. However, more clinical research is needed to fully understand their effects in humans. Further studies should focus on advanced structural analysis, clarifying mechanisms of action, and developing practical applications in health foods and medicines. The findings suggest polysaccharides could provide valuable raw materials for developing blood lipid-lowering health foods and medicines.

Published in:Molecules,
Study Type:Review,
Source: 10.3390/molecules27061903