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The Application of Plant Polysaccharides in Animal Health: Natural Active Ingredients Supporting Green Livestock Farming
2026-03-19
With increasingly stringent restrictions on the use of antibiotics in the livestock industry, the development of green, safe and effective feed additives has become a key focus for the sector. As a class of biomacromolecules derived from plants with medicinal and edible properties, plant polysaccharides demonstrate immense potential for application in the field of animal health, thanks to their unique advantages of high efficacy, non-toxicity and the absence of residues. In recent years, a wealth of research has demonstrated that plant polysaccharides can improve animal health in multiple ways, offering new approaches to green farming.
I. Core Characteristics and Common Types of Plant Polysaccharides
Plant polysaccharides are natural polymers formed by the linkage of monosaccharides via glycosidic bonds. They are composed of various monomers such as glucose and arabinose, with polysaccharides from different sources exhibiting differences in structure and activity. Their core advantages are significant: high safety, aligning with the concept of antibiotic-free farming; multifunctionality, combining nutritional and health-promoting effects; and wide availability, as they can be extracted from medicinal plants such as Astragalus, Atractylodes and Poria, as well as from agricultural crops. Currently, the most widely used include Astragalus polysaccharides, a compound of Atractylodes and Poria polysaccharides, as well as Glycyrrhiza polysaccharides and Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides, among which the immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharides is the most prominent.
II. Major Applications of Plant Polysaccharides in Animal Health
(1) Immune Modulation and Enhancement of Resistance
Mechanistic studies indicate that Polygonatum polysaccharides can activate macrophages via the TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signalling axis, significantly promoting the secretion of cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6. Dendrobium polysaccharides, on the other hand, act via the TCR signalling pathway to increase the numbers of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and CD19+ B cells in the intestinal lamina propria, whilst balancing the proportion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) to maintain immune homeostasis.
In practical production, corn silk polysaccharides have demonstrated a positive regulatory effect on the immune function of fattening pigs: not only do they significantly reduce serum levels of pro-inflammatory factors such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, but they also increase levels of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. This biphasic regulatory characteristic enables plant polysaccharides to both enhance the defence capabilities of immunocompromised animals and suppress excessive inflammatory responses, demonstrating unique application value.
(2) Gut Protection and Improved Digestion and Absorption
The gut is a key organ for nutrient absorption and immune defence in animals. Plant polysaccharides can act as prebiotics, promoting the proliferation of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria, and regulating the balance of the gut microbiota. At the same time, they can repair the intestinal mucosal barrier, reduce the absorption of intestinal toxins, and lower the incidence of diarrhoea. Research indicates that the addition of Atractylodes and Poria polysaccharides to the diet of weaned piglets can significantly improve gut health and enhance growth performance.
(3) Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects, Alleviating Tissue Damage
In poultry production, Polygonatum polysaccharides have been shown to significantly reduce MDA levels in the serum and liver of laying hens by regulating the FoxO signalling pathway and peroxisomal function, whilst simultaneously enhancing the activity of T-AOC, SOD, CAT and GSH-Px, thereby effectively counteracting oxidative stress associated with fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome. These studies fully demonstrate that plant polysaccharides are an effective tool for enhancing the antioxidant defence system in animals.
(4) Stress Alleviation and Growth Promotion, Enhancing Farming Efficiency
In large-scale farming, stress factors such as weaning and high temperatures can impair animal growth performance. Plant polysaccharides can regulate endocrine function, alleviate stress responses, and simultaneously improve digestion and absorption, thereby enhancing feed conversion efficiency. The addition of Astragalus polysaccharides to feed can increase daily weight gain and reduce the feed-to-weight ratio; the inclusion of xylooligosaccharides in swine feed can effectively control diarrhoea and promote growth.
III. Current Applications and Future Prospects
Currently, the application of plant polysaccharides in animal health has achieved certain results; however, issues such as imperfect extraction processes and insufficient research into mechanisms of action remain, hindering large-scale adoption. In the future, it will be necessary to optimise extraction techniques, reduce production costs, conduct in-depth investigations into target sites of action, and determine appropriate dosage levels for different animal species. As research continues to advance, plant polysaccharides are bound to become a significant driving force for the green and healthy development of the livestock industry.
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