The structural characteristics, biological activities and mechanisms of bioactive brown seaweed polysaccharides: A review

Brown seaweed polysaccharides (BSPs) are potential alternative sources of bioactive compounds. The food and pharmaceutical industries have a great interest in BSPs because of their various bioactivities, such as anticancer, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities. Studies have demonstrated that the bioactivities of BSPs are significantly influenced by their structural characteristics and chemical constitution; but, their specific conformational relationships are complex and required further study. However, systematic reviews of the biological activities and mechanisms of action of BSPs are currently inadequate. Thus, this paper summarizes recent studies on the physicochemical and structural features, characterization methods, biological activities, and related action mechanisms of BSPs from different sources. Based on these findings, future prospects include the following three aspects. More advanced research techniques need to be developed to identify the exact main and branch structure of BSPs; in-depth studies of the detailed structure of BSPs are needed to elucidate the conformational relationships between polysaccharides and their activities, and clinical trials should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of BSPs in the prevention and treatment of various diseases. The information provided here aims to offer a theoretical foundation for further research on the structural properties, mechanism of action, and potential applications of BSPs in food and pharmaceutical industries as well as, to increase the economic value of BSPs and extend their application range.