Medicinal and edible fungal polysaccharide: sources, preparation, structural characteristics, and health benefits
Medicinal and edible fungal polysaccharides (MEFPs) are fungal bioactive carbohydrates. This review systematically summarizes their sources, preparation, structural characteristics and health benefits as prebiotics. Most MEFPs derive from Basidiomycota with specific molecular structures and monosaccharide compositions. Optimized extraction and purification methods ensure their structural integrity. MEFPs regulate gut microbiota, improve lipid metabolism and immunity, and exhibit therapeutic potential for colitis, diabetes and obesity.
Authors
- Zheng Ruli
- Guangzhen Zheng
- Jie Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1568-8974)
- Xue Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4697-2123)
- Yating Zuo
- Lin Bai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4018-8277)
- Liwei Li
- Qingping Xiong
- Zeyu Chen
- Zhen Zhu
- Yiyuan Qin
- Shiyan Yang
- Weixuan Yang
- Tianjing Wang
- Wei Wang
- Yingying Shi
- Junjie Zhou
Institutions
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (CN)
- Xuzhou Medical College (CN)
- State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China (CN)
- Second People’s Hospital of Huai’an (CN)
- Huaiyin Normal University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Science of Food
- Published
- 2026-08-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-01092-z
- Primary Topic
- Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation