Isolation, Structural Properties, and Bioactivities of Polysaccharides from Mushrooms : A Review.

are well-known wild edible and medicinal basidiomycete mushrooms. The frequent consumption of stimulated studies on their health-promoting properties. Numerous health benefits of are associated with the main categories of components in , polysaccharides. Although the homopolysaccharides β-glucans are believed to be the major bioactive polysaccharides of , other heteropolysaccharides also possess biological activities. In this review, the extraction methods, chemical structures, and biological activities of polysaccharides from were thoroughly reviewed. The polysaccharides from different species of differ in molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and linkages of constituent sugars. The health-promoting effects, including antioxidation, ulcer-healing and analgesic properties, immunomodulation, hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects, and antidiabetic properties of polysaccharides were summarized and discussed. Further studies were needed for a better understanding of the relationship between the fine chemical structure and health-promoting properties. This review provides a theoretical overview for future studies and utilization of polysaccharides.