Ginseng polysaccharide (GPS), the principal bioactive component of Panax ginseng, has attracted considerable interest for its health-promoting properties, including immunomodulation, neuroprotection, antioxidative effects, and gut microbiota regulation. However, the intricate chemical structures, complex in vivo dynamics, and poorly defined structure–activity relationships limit its application in health products. This review summarizes recent progress in GPS research, covering extraction, isolation, purification, structural characterization, and bioactivities. Furthermore, it elucidates the in vivo fate of GPS, including gut microbiota-mediated degradation, intestinal uptake, and tracking techniques, as well as GPS-based delivery systems and structural modifications to enhance bioavailability. We also discuss its potential in functional food development and outline future perspectives, including structure–activity relationships, microbial metabolism networks, and delivery challenges. This review aims to provide a solid theoretical foundation for the further utilization of GPS as a promising natural macromolecule for health applications.
Zhang et al. (2026) studied this question.