Research advances in fungal polysaccharides: production, extraction, characterization, properties, and their multifaceted applications

Author: mycolabadmin
6/9/2025
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Summary

This comprehensive review examines fungal polysaccharides, which are complex sugar molecules found in mushrooms and fungi that have powerful health benefits. Researchers describe how to grow and extract these compounds from various fungi, and explain their uses in treating diseases like cancer, reducing inflammation, and boosting immunity. The review covers different growing and extraction methods used worldwide and discusses future directions for using these natural compounds in medicine and industry.

Background

Fungal polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates composed of monosaccharide units linked by glycosidic bonds that possess significant biological properties. Fungi have been important to humans for millions of years and produce various bioactive compounds including polysaccharides, which have demonstrated immune stimulation, antioxidant activity, anticancer properties, and anti-inflammatory effects. Research on fungal polysaccharides has been increasing significantly, with 8,138 published documents from 2000-2024 in the Scopus database.

Objective

This review summarizes current findings on fungal polysaccharides from 2010-2024, including production processes, extraction methods, characterization techniques, biological properties, and applications across medicine, pharmacology, food industry, agriculture, and environment. The study also reviews global patent trends and discusses challenges and future perspectives related to fungal polysaccharides.

Results

The review identified numerous fungal species producing polysaccharides and categorized them as homopolysaccharides and heteropolysaccharides, further classified as endopolysaccharides (EnPs) and exopolysaccharides (ExPs). Multiple extraction methods were compared with varying yields and advantages. Key polysaccharides identified include β-glucan, botryosphaeran, grifolan, lasiodiplodan, lentinan, pleuran, pullulan, schizophyllan, and scleroglucan with specific glycosidic linkages and applications.

Conclusion

Fungal polysaccharides represent valuable bioactive compounds with diverse applications across multiple industries. The selection of appropriate production and extraction methods depends on fungal species characteristics and desired applications. Future research should focus on optimizing production efficiency, developing more sustainable extraction methods, and further exploring therapeutic applications of fungal polysaccharides.

Published in:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology,
Study Type:Review,
Source: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1604184, PMC12183277, 40552121