Natural polysaccharides targeting mitochondrial function for colorectal cancer prevention and treatment: mechanisms and nano-delivery strategies.

IF 7.4 3区医学 Q1 INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

Chinese Medicine Pub Date : 2026-07-14 DOI:10.1186/s13020-026-01463-4

Huan Yan, Lianfeng Wang, Jiaxin Gan, Xin Zhou, Yuxin Jiang, Honglian Wang, Yuting Luo, Juan Fu, Jianqin Liu, Zhi Li

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor of the digestive system with high incidence and mortality worldwide. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in the development, progression, and chemotherapy resistance of CRC. Natural polysaccharides have attracted increasing attention in anti-CRC research in recent years due to their wide sources, low toxicity, good biocompatibility, and multi-target activities.

Objective: To systematically review the molecular mechanisms by which natural polysaccharides target mitochondrial dysfunction to prevent and treat CRC, and to summarize the research progress of nano-delivery strategies.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SinoMed databases for literature published from January 1, 2015 to June 3, 2026. A total of 89 articles were included for analysis.

Results: Natural polysaccharides exert anti-CRC effects through synergistic actions of multiple pathways, including regulation of reactive oxygen species homeostasis, induction of mitochondrial apoptosis and autophagy, remodeling of the tumor immune microenvironment, and protection of intestinal barrier function. Their bioactivities are closely related to molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, glycosidic bond type, branching structure, and chemical modification. Nano-delivery technologies can significantly improve their targeting efficiency and therapeutic activity. Regarding clinical studies, current evidence mainly focuses on the combined use of natural polysaccharides with chemotherapy and the management of cancer-related symptoms; direct clinical evidence targeting CRC resistance remains limited.

Conclusion: Mitochondria-targeting nano-systems based on natural polysaccharides provide a promising multi-target strategy for CRC prevention, treatment, and reversal of chemotherapy resistance. However, current evidence has limitations, including inconsistent structural characterization, lack of direct co-localization evidence, and insufficient pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic evaluations.

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靶向线粒体功能的天然多糖预防和治疗结直肠癌：机制和纳米递送策略。

背景：结直肠癌（Colorectal cancer， CRC）是一种在世界范围内发病率和死亡率都很高的消化系统恶性肿瘤。线粒体功能障碍在结直肠癌的发生、进展和化疗耐药中起核心作用。天然多糖因其来源广泛、毒性低、生物相容性好、具有多靶点活性等优点，近年来在抗结直肠癌研究中受到越来越多的关注。目的：系统综述天然多糖靶向线粒体功能障碍预防和治疗结直肠癌的分子机制，并总结纳米递送策略的研究进展。方法：系统检索PubMed、Web of Science、Scopus和sinmed数据库中2015年1月1日至2026年6月3日发表的文献。共纳入89篇文章进行分析。结果：天然多糖通过调节活性氧稳态、诱导线粒体凋亡和自噬、重塑肿瘤免疫微环境、保护肠道屏障功能等多种途径协同作用，发挥抗结直肠癌的作用。它们的生物活性与分子量、单糖组成、糖苷键类型、分支结构和化学修饰密切相关。纳米递送技术可以显著提高药物的靶向效率和治疗活性。在临床研究方面，目前的证据主要集中在天然多糖与化疗的联合使用和癌症相关症状的管理；针对结直肠癌耐药的直接临床证据仍然有限。结论：基于天然多糖的线粒体靶向纳米系统为结直肠癌的预防、治疗和化疗耐药逆转提供了一种有前景的多靶点策略。然而，目前的证据有局限性，包括不一致的结构表征，缺乏直接的共定位证据，以及不充分的药代动力学-药效学评估。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Chinese Medicine INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE-PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY

CiteScore

7.90

自引率

4.10%

发文量

133

审稿时长

31 weeks

期刊介绍： Chinese Medicine is an open access, online journal publishing evidence-based, scientifically justified, and ethical research into all aspects of Chinese medicine. Areas of interest include recent advances in herbal medicine, clinical nutrition, clinical diagnosis, acupuncture, pharmaceutics, biomedical sciences, epidemiology, education, informatics, sociology, and psychology that are relevant and significant to Chinese medicine. Examples of research approaches include biomedical experimentation, high-throughput technology, clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, sampled surveys, simulation, data curation, statistics, omics, translational medicine, and integrative methodologies. Chinese Medicine is a credible channel to communicate unbiased scientific data, information, and knowledge in Chinese medicine among researchers, clinicians, academics, and students in Chinese medicine and other scientific disciplines of medicine.