Editorial: Polysaccharides for health and nutrition - extraction, isolation, bioactivity and innovative applications

Introduction 15Polysaccharides constitute one of the most structurally diverse classes of biomacromolecules 16 found in nature and play essential roles in human nutrition and health. These complex carbohydrates, 17 derived from plants, algae, fungi, bacteria, and agricultural biomass, are increasingly recognized for 18 their multifunctional properties in both biological systems and food technologies. Recent research has 19 demonstrated that polysaccharides participate in fundamental physiological processes including 20 immune regulation, metabolic modulation, and gut microbiota interactions, highlighting their 21 importance as dietary bioactive compounds and functional food ingredients. 22The