Introduction to polysaccharides

Abstract Polysaccharides are a major family of biopolymers that are found in natural sources, for example, animals, plants, algae, and microorganisms. They have diverse functional properties and play an essential part in sustaining life. Polysaccharides are well-known for their nutritional benefits and incontrovertible effects on immunity, digestibility, and detoxification in the human body. Moreover, polysaccharides are inexpensive biomaterials with excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity. This chapter provides an introduction to polysaccharides—their chemical structures, classification, and applications in foods, medicine, and environment.