ABSTRACT
Molecular modification of Chinese materia medica polysaccharides (CMMP) is considered as the technology of modification on some special structure or functional group in the main chain or the side chain of polysaccharides on the purpose of changing certain physicochemical properties and the spatial structure of polysaccharides by using physical, chemical and biological methods which can enhance the biological activity. Physical methods mainly include ultrasonic method and irradiation technology. Chemical methods refer to sulfation, phosphorylation, acetylation, carboxymethylation, alkylation, sulfonylation, selenylation, and so on. Biological method is also called the enzymatic modification containing enzyme degradation and enzymatic synthesis. In recent years, it has been shown that the physicochemical properties and spatial structure of CMMP could be changed after modification, which could make their immunopharmacology activity, such as immune adjustment, antivirus, antitumor, and antioxidant, enhanced obviously. The main modification methods of CMMP and the related pharmacological activity of its products after modification are summarized in this paper.