The genus Citrus L. polysaccharides reimagined: A review on structural diversity, pharmacological mechanisms, and sustainable utilization.

The genus Citrus L., recognized for its medicinal and nutritional properties, exhibits significant activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. These characteristics have led to a wide range of applications in this genus. As a vital raw material, is utilized in 1066 Chinese patent medicines, 2935 traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, 186 domestic health foods, and 4 imported health foods, contributing to the fields of food and healthcare. Recently, polysaccharides have become the focus of research, with applications spanning medicine, food, and materials. Consequently, this study systematically reviews the genus Citrus L. polysaccharides (CGPs), addressing the research advancements in extraction, purification, structural characteristics, biological activities, and applications. It also examines how factors such as polysaccharide molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and configuration, influence biological activities. The key conclusions indicate that CGPs with specific monosaccharide profiles (e.g., high GalA content) exhibit enhanced bioactivity, particularly in immunomodulation and antioxidant effects. This review aims to enhance the understanding of CGPs and facilitate their application and development. Future research should focus on integrating multidisciplinary technologies, optimizing extraction processes, conducting in-depth analyses of structure-function relationships, and exploring the potential applications in medicine and environmentally friendly materials, thereby promoting the high-value utilization and industrial development of CGPs.