Extraction, structural characteristics and activities of Zizylphus vulgaris polysaccharides

Zizylphus vulgaris has nearly four thousand years of planting and eating history. Zizylphus vulgaris polysaccharide is a kind of complex heteropolysaccharide. Modern pharmacological studies show that polysaccharide is one of the main functional active components in Zizylphus vulgaris fruit and has a variety of biological functions. Herein, the extraction methods of Zizylphus vulgaris polysaccharides were summarized, the structural characteristics, activities and structure-activity relationship of Zizylphus vulgaris polysaccharides were systematically reviewed, and the existing problems were analyzed in order to provide reference and theoretical basis for improving the utilization of Zizylphus vulgaris polysaccharides. •Extraction methods of Zizylphus vulgaris polysaccharides were summarized.•The structure-activity relationship of Zizylphus vulgaris polysaccharides was reviewed.•The existing problems were analyzed.