Plant Food Polysaccharides: Molecular Conformation and Functional Mechanism Studies
A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Foods".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 374
Special Issue Editors
Interests: natural plant polysaccharides; structural characterization; functional foods; gut microbiota
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Natural polysaccharides are core bioactive components extensively distributed in edible plants (e.g., lotus root, blueberry, areca nut, and hawthorn) and have garnered increasing attention due to their diverse health-promoting potentials. Despite being mostly non-absorbable in the gastrointestinal tract, these polysaccharides exert prominent physiological effects, including immunomodulation, anti-inflammation, anti-tumour activity, hepatoprotection, and growth regulation. Notably, natural plant polysaccharides are characterized by high molecular weights and intricate structural heterogeneity (e.g., monosaccharide composition, glycosidic bond linkage, branching degree, and functional group modification), and their biological activities are inherently tied to these structural features.
This Special Issue focuses on natural polysaccharides derived from food, and its research scope includes, but is not limited to, the following three core dimensions: unresolved scientific questions in structural characterization and bioactivity mechanisms, innovative methodologies (e.g., advanced chromatographic-mass spectrometry techniques for structural analysis, in vitro 3D models or in vivo imaging tools for mechanism validation), and translational relevance (e.g., development of polysaccharide-based functional ingredients, industrial-scale extraction/purification optimization). We aim to compile high-quality original research that advances the understanding of the structural properties of food-derived natural polysaccharides, deciphers their underpinning bioactive mechanisms, and bridges the gap between basic research and practical applications.
By integrating insights into unresolved challenges, cutting-edge methodologies, and translational potential, this Special Issue seeks to provide a dedicated platform for researchers to present innovative findings, stimulate interdisciplinary discussions, and accelerate the development and application of food-derived natural polysaccharides in functional foods and nutraceuticals. Ultimately, it will contribute to a more comprehensive and actionable understanding of the functional roles of these bioactive components.
Dr. Chunqing Ai
Dr. Fanhua Kong
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- homology of medicine and food
- natural plant polysaccharides
- gut microbes
- structural features
- health benefits
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