[Research progress in separation, purification, structural characterization, and bioactivities of polysaccharides...

Polyporaceae fungi are recognized as significant medicinal resources and are documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2025) Volume Ⅰ, with representatives including Ganoderma, Poria, Polyporus, and Coriolus. Polyporaceae fungi polysaccharides(PFPs) are regarded as one of the principal bioactive constituents, exhibiting diverse biological activities. The polysaccharide yield is considerably influenced by the extraction methods employed, with solvent extraction, ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted, and enzyme-assisted extraction being widely used. To obtain homogeneous polysaccharides, purification typically involves a combination of techniques such as deproteinization, decolorization, ultrafiltration, and various forms of chromatography. Structural analyses indicate that PFPs are primarily composed of neutral polysaccharides and acidic polysaccharides, which display considerable complexity and diversity in monosaccharide composition, molecular weight, and glycosidic linkage configurations. Pharmacological studies have revealed that PFPs possess multiple biological activities, including antitumor, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, gut microbiota-regulating, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in the extraction, purification, structural characterization, and biological activities of PFPs, aiming to provide a valuable reference for their further development and comprehensive utilization.