Abstract: Camellia oleifera Abel. is an important component of characteristic economic forest resources. The lack of diversity in its traditional utilization mode has seriously restricted the improvement of industrial benefits. In recent years, the discovery of c. oleifera polysaccharides (COPs) and research on their functional characteristics have provided a new approach for the high-value utilization of C. oleifera resources. However, due to the complexity of polysaccharide structure and the bottleneck of separation technology, research on the purification process, fine structure, biological activity, and mechanism of action of COPs is still at an exploration stage. Therefore, this paper systematically reviews recent progress in the extraction and purification technologies, structural characterization, biological activity, mechanism of action, and future application and development prospects of COPs, focusing on the shortcomings of existing research and future development directions. It is hoped that this review will provide new ideas for basic research on COPs and lays an important foundation for advancing the strategic transformation of the C. oleifera industry from traditional edible oil production to the development of high-value bioactive substances.

Key words: Camellia oleifera polysaccharides; extraction; purification; structural identification; biological activities; application and development