Extraction, structure, pharmacological activity, and structural modification of Lilium polysaccharides

Polysaccharides primarily composed of glucose, arabinose, rhamnose, xylose, and galactose are pharmacologically active ingredients in Lilium. The pharmacological activities shown by polysaccharides from Lilium include antioxidant, anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, bacteriostatic, and radiation protection effects. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the distribution of Lilium medicinal resources in China, current extraction and purification methods of Lilium polysaccharide (LP), the strategies used for analyzing the polysaccharide structure and monosaccharide composition in LP, and the pharmacological activities and structural modification of LP. This review provides a basis for the development and clinical application of LP along with the conservation and utilization of Lilium resources.