New insight in the progress of zinc polysaccharide complex: Preparation, structural features, bioactivities and application

Abstract

Zinc polysaccharide complexes have multiple health effects. It can be divided into two categories: natural zinc polysaccharides and synthetic zinc polysaccharides. They can be used as zinc dietary supplements, but also as potential clinical drugs due to their various biological activities, such as antioxidant, liver protection, anti-tumor, anti-diabetes, anti-inflammatory, and other activities. Natural zinc polysaccharides are mainly distributed in the mycelium or fruit body of fungi. The activities of synthetic zinc polysaccharides are much higher than those of zinc or the native polysaccharides themselves. This review systematically introduces the latest advances in the source, preparation, structural characterization, biological activities, related mechanisms and applications of zinc polysaccharides, providing a comprehensive understanding and prospects of zinc polysaccharides for future research.