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Wound repair in the gastrointestinal tract involves a close interplay between cell migration and proliferation. Stimulation of angiogenesis would promote the progression of tissue repair at the later stage of wound recovery. The amelioration of inflammation during ulceration may also help reduce the severity of wounds and thereby enhance ulcer healing. Recent studies found that unfractionated heparin, a polysaccharide from animal sources, not only increased ulcer healing but also possessed anti-inflammatory action in the gastrointestinal mucosa. Moreover, polysaccharides derived from vegetal origins were shown to produce similar antiulcer actions in the same system. These intriguing findings prompt us to believe that studying the pharmacological actions of polysaccharides represents a new facet of drug development for wound repair in the gastrointestinal mucosa. This article reviews these actions and also some basic mechanisms to show how polysaccharides promote tissue repair through various growth factors and produce anti-inflammatory action by suppressing the neutrophil/cytokine cascade in the gastrointestinal tract. These actions could have significant implications for wound repair in other parts of the human body. Sources and Compositions of PolysaccharidesThere are various sources of polysaccharides with different compositions. Table 1 summarizes the sources of polysaccharides and their known pharmacological actions on the gastrointestinal tract. These sources range from plant to animal origins with different molecular structures. They are mostly sulfated molecules with uronic acid as part of the residue. It was