The structure-function relationship of edible and medicinal mushroom polysaccharides and their protective effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa: A review.
- 2026-01
- International journal of biological macromolecules 337
- Wenjie Zhou
- Yongpeng Huang
- Haisheng Li
- Xianjing Han
- Zhixiang Xue
- Huanyi Xu
- Bin Liu
- Feng Zeng
- PubMed: 41380870
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149603
Study Design
- Type
- Review
The gastro-intestinal (GI) mucosa can be damaged by various factors, and the bioactivity of edible and medicinal mushroom polysaccharides (EMMPs) in protecting the GI mucosa has garnered significant attention in research. Studies have shown that EMMPs can play a role in maintaining GI health in various ways. This paper summarizes the relationship between the structural characteristics of polysaccharides from EMMPs and their functions and elucidates the differences in protective effects among EMMPs with distinct structural features. This review systematically examines the mechanisms by which drugs, pathogens, dietary habits, and psychological stress damage the GI mucosa. It emphasizes how EMMPs protect the GI mucosa by enhancing the mucosal barrier, suppressing oxidative stress, regulating immune function, and reshaping the gut microbiota. The review also outlines future research directions, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for further studies on the functions and applications of EMMPs.