Extraction, purification, structural characterization, bioactivities and application of polysaccharides from different parts of pine

Abstract

The pine plant belongs to the genus Pinus and the Pinaceae family. Approximately 100 species are predominantly distributed in the northern hemisphere. Historically, various parts of pine trees, including pollen, needles, cones, and nuts, have been used in traditional medicine for their therapeutic properties. Polysaccharides have emerged as key bioactive constituents of pine in recent decades, attracting significant scientific interest due to their immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. Despite extensive studies on extraction methods and biological functions of pine polysaccharides, major gaps remain in understanding their structure–activity relationships. Current structural analyses are predominantly limited to monosaccharide composition and molecular weight. Moreover, systematic comparisons of polysaccharides from different pine tissues are scarce. Therefore, the mechanisms underlying the bioactivity and full pharmaceutical potential of pine polysaccharides need elucidation. This study aimed to comprehensively review recent advances in the extraction, purification, structural characterization, and biological activities of polysaccharides derived from distinct pine components. Comprehensive information on the Pinus species was collected via electronic searches (e.g., GoogleScholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and CNKI) and from reference books. Existing data on structure–activity correlations and applications were integrated, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for future research on pine polysaccharides as novel therapeutic agents.