REVIEW article
Front. Immunol.
Sec. Comparative Immunology
Astragalus Polysaccharides: Structure-Immunomodulation Relationships, Multi-Target Pharmacological Activities, and Cutting-Edge Applications in Immune Modulation
Provisionally accepted
- 1Natural Products Discovery Institute, Doylestown, United States
- 2People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China
- 3Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
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Astragalus Polysaccharide (APS), the primary bioactive component of Astragalus, exhibits multi-faceted immunomodulatory properties. Its efficacy stems not from broad, non-specific stimulation but from the precise engagement of a network of cell surface immune receptors. This review synthesizes the critical structure-immunomodulatory network relationship of APS, positioning Toll-like receptor 4 as a central mediator. Key insights reveal that APS bioactivity is governed by a specific molecular weight window, critical monosaccharide ratios, and distinct glycosidic linkages. These structural features enable APS to interact with TLR4, potentially in collaboration with other pattern recognition receptors such as the Mannose Receptor and Dectin-1, to initiate integrated signaling. Future research must prioritize multi-omics and structural biology to map precise receptor-binding sites, establish robust standardization and quality control protocols, and advance translational clinical studies for APS-based adjuvant development. This work provides a strategic framework for advancing APS from a traditional remedy into a novel, mechanism-driven immunomodulatory agent.
Keywords: Astragalus polysaccharide, structure-activity relationship, Immune Regulation, Cutting-edge applications, delivery innovations
Received: 28 Sep 2025; Accepted: 10 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Bo, Wu, Ma, Liu, Tao, Jia, Zhou and Ding. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Wang Bo, wangking1126@163.com
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