Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) have attracted increasing attention for their potential benefits in digestive health due to their wide range of biological activities, including immune modulation, anti-tumor effects, and enhancement of digestive functions. This review focuses on summarizing recent research regarding the mechanisms, applications, and therapeutic potential of APS in digestive health. APS has been shown to enhance digestive enzyme activities, improve intestinal structure, and regulate gut microbiota. Specifically, APS significantly increases the activity of trypsin, lipase, and amylase, leading to improved nutrient absorption. Moreover, APS promotes intestinal health by increasing villus height and the villus-to-crypt ratio, contributing to a more efficient intestinal environment. Additionally, APS exhibits prebiotic effects, fostering the growth of beneficial gut bacteria while inhibiting harmful pathogens, thus supporting gut development and mucosal immune function. Although APS shows promising therapeutic potential, further studies are needed to elucidate its precise mechanisms and confirm its clinical efficacy in treating digestive disorders. This review aims to provide valuable insights and research references for the future application of APS in digestive health therapies.
Chen et al. (Sun,) studied this question.