SynthesisFrontiers in psychiatry2026
Gut microbiota-dependent mechanisms and efficacy of natural polysaccharides in multitarget antidepressant therapy: a systematic review.
Synthesis in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Depression is a mental disorder with emotional, physiological, and behavioral symptoms. Natural polysaccharides have attracted attention for their low toxicity and potential to improve depression, possibly through modulation of gut microbiota and related metabolic pathways. This systematic review aimed to summarize preclinical evidence on the antidepressant efficacy of natural polysaccharides and explore putative mechanisms involving the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase for studies up to October 4, 2025. Results: Twenty preclinical studies met the inclusion criteria. Polysaccharide treatment was generally associated with improved depression-like behaviors, normalized neurotransmitter levels, and reduced inflammation and oxidative stress. These effects were accompanied by changes in intestinal barrier function, gut microbiota composition, and short-chain fatty acid metabolism. However, substantial heterogeneity and a high risk of bias across the included studies limit causal interpretation. Conclusion: Natural polysaccharides show potential antidepressant effects in preclinical models, but the current evidence is preliminary. Well-designed translational and clinical studies are needed to advance these findings. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261284093, identifier PROSPERO, CRD420261284093.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.