Plant polysaccharides and their effects on cell adhesion

Abstract

Cell adhesion mediated by cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) constitutes essential life phenomenon. In inflammation, immunity, infection, tumor, cardiovascular injury, and wound healing, cell adhesion comes into being the basic physiological and pathological process. Intervening with cell adhesion has been the important therapeutic and prophylactic strategies for diseases. Accumulated evidence has indicated that plant polysaccharides especially those exacted from Chinese traditional and herbal medicine (most of plant medicine) displayed various pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammation, antitumor, anti-infection, immunomodulation, cardiovascular protective effects, and so on. Focusing on cell adhesion, further research is expected to reveal the therapeutic mechanism of plant polysaccharides in disease processes.