Properties, bioactive potential and extraction processes of glycosaminoglycans: an overview

ABSTRACT: Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are long-chain polysaccharides that divided into sulphates and non-sulphates, these being chondroitin sulphate, heparan dermatan heparin sulphate the only non-sulphate in group is hyaluronic acid. GAGs obtained from animal tissue by an expensive low-yield extraction process; however, they highly commercially valued exploited biomedical market. Their disaccharidic composition, chain length sulfation pattern present great variability depending on species factors. possess immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antiproliferative anticoagulant properties, functioning as therapeutic agents modulating array of biological processes. This report presents general aspects each GAG, source process, addition to characteristics give them most varied properties pharmacological applications.