Table 3 The different kinds of non-plant-origin polysaccharides in nature
From: Bioactive polysaccharides from natural resources including Chinese medicinal herbs on tissue repair
Polysaccharides | Composition | Source | Physiological effects |
|---|---|---|---|
Alginate | Repeated units of 1,4-linked β-mannuronate and 1,4-α-guluronate residues | Brown algae (Phaeophyceae) | Wound healing, therapeutic agents and proteins delivery, and cell transplantation |
Carrageenan | Repeating galactose units and 3,6 anhydrogalactose | Red edible seaweeds | Food additives and immunoregulatory effect |
Mushroom polysaccharides | β-Glucans and heteropolysaccharides | Mushrooms | Antiobesity, antidiabetes, anticancer, and antibiotic properties |
Heparin | Repeated units of sulfonated hexuronic acid (1 → 4)-glucosamine | Porcine intestinal mucosa | Animal tissue structure, binding affinity for growth factors, and anticoagulation |
Hyaluronan | Alternating units of d-glucuronic acid, and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine | Synovial fluid, the vitreous fluid of the eye, umbilical cords and chicken combs | Natural fluids, wound dressing, chondroprotective effects |
Chondroitin sulfate | Alternating sugars (N-acetylgalactosamine and glucuronic acid) | Cartilage of animals | Animal tissue structure, dietary supplement for treatment of osteoarthritis |
Heparin sulfate | A glucuronic acid (GlcA) linked to N-acetylglucosamine | Animals | Animal tissue structure |
Chitin and chitosan | Repeated units of N-acetyl-2-amino-2-deoxyd-glucose and 2-amino-2-deoxy-dglucose residues | Crab or shrimp shells and fungal mycelia | Wound healing, and drug delivery |