Polysaccharides Derived From Natural Sources: A Panacea to Health and Nutritional Challenges

Abstract

The global population has been stated to increase drastically to 9 billion in the year 2050. Some of the basic needs of our time include provision of quality and safe food with adequate nutrition, access to quality health care for that could prevent the exposure of mankind to incidence of diseases and several health challenges. Therefore, there is a need to search for a natural material that could perform all the aforementioned purposes. Polysaccharides have been identified as natural material bio-macromolecules that process several unique attributes that could mitigate several health challenges and provide some high level of nutritional roles when used as additives or preservatives as well as nutraceutical or for effective delivery of some active ingredient. Detailed information on the application of polysaccharides in the area of biomedicine and nutrition will be discussed in this chapter. The various types of polysaccharides derived from numerous sources as well as their functions were highlighted. The modes of action of these polysaccharides were also discussed.