Antioxidant Activities of Natural Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Biomedical and Medicinal Applications

This review highlights the significant antioxidant properties of natural polysaccharides, which are beneficial in combating oxidative stress linked to chronic diseases like Alzheimer's, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. It emphasizes that antioxidant activity is the most researched pharmacological effect of these biomacromolecules, as evidenced by a scientometric analysis of highly cited papers. The antioxidant mechanisms include regulation of signal transduction pathways, enzyme activation, and free radical scavenging. The review also explores the applications of natural polysaccharides and their derivatives in pharmaceutics, tissue engineering, and antimicrobial food additives, providing current insights for their further development and use.