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Polysaccharides from fungi: A review on their extraction, purification, structural features, and biological activities

Summary

Mushrooms contain special compounds called polysaccharides that have powerful health benefits. Scientists have found these polysaccharides can help fight cancer, boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and manage diabetes. This review explains different ways to extract and purify these beneficial compounds from mushrooms and describes how they work in the body to provide these health benefits.

Background

Fungi are rich natural resources containing polysaccharides, proteins, fats, and vitamins with significant medical and nutritional values. Fungal polysaccharides have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, particularly in China, Japan, and Korea. The global edible fungi market reached $35 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $60 billion by 2023.

Objective

To systematically review extraction, purification, structural characteristics, and biological activities of fungal polysaccharides. The review emphasizes structure-activity relationships and underlying molecular mechanisms to promote better understanding and industrial utilization of fungal polysaccharides.

Results

Fungal polysaccharides demonstrate diverse biological activities including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, hypolipidemic, and radioprotective effects. Molecular weights range from 10.278 to 784 kDa, primarily composed of galactose, glucose, and mannose with varying glycosidic linkages and structural configurations.

Conclusion

Fungal polysaccharides represent promising natural bioactive components for therapeutic and functional applications. Further research on exact structural information, molecular mechanisms, and structure-activity relationships is necessary to advance their clinical development and large-scale industrial application.
  • Published in:Food Chemistry X,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 36211789, DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2022.100414
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