Plant polysaccharides are widely present in nature and have various biological activities, including immune regulation, antioxidant, anti-tumor, etc. Due to its low toxicity and easy absorption, it’s currently a hot research topic in the fields of medicine and food science. However, low activity hinders its widespread application. The synergistic reaction between plant polysaccharides and active ingredients can exert their biological activity through multiple targets and pathways, achieving a 1+1 ≥ 2 effect. Recently, there has been an increasing amount of research on the biological activity of polysaccharides, but there is limited review on the cooperative effects of polysaccharides with other active ingredients. This article summarizes research reports on the cooperative effects of polysaccharides both domestically and internationally, and reviews the cooperative effects and mechanisms of polysaccharides and active ingredients in six aspects: antioxidant, antibacterial, hypoglycemic, anticancer, anti obesity, and liver injury inhibition. The aim is to provide reference for