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Structure type: structural motif or average structure
Trivial name: pleuran, lentinan, scleroglucan, schizophyllan, grifolan
Compound class: EPS, glucan, polysaccharide
Contained glycoepitopes: IEDB_1397514,IEDB_141806,IEDB_142488,IEDB_146664,IEDB_153543,IEDB_158555,IEDB_161166,IEDB_161167,IEDB_2278476,IEDB_2278477,IEDB_241101,IEDB_558869,IEDB_857743,IEDB_983931,SB_192

• Article ID: 5268
  Barsanti L, Passarelli V, Evangelista V, Frassanito AM, Gualtieri P "Chemistry, physico-chemistry and applications linked to biological activities of β-glucans" - Natural Product Reports 28(3) (2011) 457-466
  

  β-Glucans is the common name given to a group of chemically heterogeneous polysaccharides. They are long- or short-chain polymers of (1→3)-β-linked glucose moieties which may be branched, with the branching chains linked to the backbone by a (1→6)-β linkage. β-(1→3)-Glucans are widely distributed in bacteria, algae, fungi and plants, where they are involved in cell wall structure and other biological function. β-Glucans have been shown to provide a remarkable range of health benefits, and are especially important against the two most common conventional causes of death in industrialized countries, i.e. cardiovascular diseases (where they promote healthy cholesterol and blood glucose levels) and cancer (where they enhance immune system functions). This Highlight provides a comprehensive and up-to-date commentary on β-glucans, their chemistry, physico-chemistry, functional role in immunological responses, and possible applications as therapeutic tools. In addition, we discuss the mechanism behind their health benefits, which are not yet fully understood.

  polysaccharides, β-Glucans, beta-glucans

  NCBI PubMed ID: 21240441
  Publication DOI: 10.1039/c0np00018c
  Journal NLM ID: 8502408
  Publisher: London: Royal Society of Chemistry
  Correspondence: paolo.gualtieri@pi.ibf.cnr.it
  Institutions: Istituto di Biofisica, Pisa, Italy
  
   
  
  Pleurotus ostreatus, Lentinus edodes, Sclerotium rolfsii, Schizophyllum commune, Grifola frondosa
  CSDB ID 43326 (all data & tools)
• Article ID: 7088
  Vasconcelos AF, Monteiro NK, Dekker RF, Barbosa AM, Carbonero ER, Silveira JL, Sassaki GL, da Silva R, de Lourdes Corradi da Silva M "Three exopolysaccharides of the β-(1→6)-d-glucan type and a β-(1→3;1→6)-d-glucan produced by strains of Botryosphaeria rhodina isolated from rotting tropical fruit" - Carbohydrate Research 343(14) (2008) 2481-2485
  

  Four exopolysaccharides (EPS) obtained from Botryosphaeria rhodina strains isolated from rotting tropical fruit (graviola, mango, pinha, and orange) grown on sucrose were purified on Sepharose CL-4B. Total acid hydrolysis of each EPS yielded only glucose. Data from methylation analysis and (13)C NMR spectroscopy indicated that the EPS from the graviola isolate consisted of a main chain of glucopyranosyl (1→3) linkages substituted at O-6 as shown in the putative structure below: [carbohydrate structure: see text]. The EPS of the other fungal isolates consisted of a linear chain of (1→6)-linked glucopyranosyl residues of the following structure: [carbohydrate structure: see text]. FTIR spectra showed one band at 891 cm(-1), and (13)C NMR spectroscopy showed that all glucosidic linkages were of the β-configuration. Dye-inclusion studies with Congo Red indicated that each EPS existed in a triple-helix conformational state. β-(1→6)-d-Glucans produced as exocellular polysaccharides by fungi are uncommon.

  exopolysaccharides, Botryosphaeria rhodina isolates, β(1-6)-d-Glucans, β(1-3;1-6)-d-Glucans, Triple-helix conformation

  NCBI PubMed ID: 18639868
  Publication DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2008.06.013
  Journal NLM ID: 0043535
  Publisher: Elsevier
  Correspondence: corradi@fct.unesp.br (M. de Lourdes Corradi da Silva)
  Institutions: Departamento de Física, Química e Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil, Departamento de Bioquímica e Microbiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil, Universidad de Castilla—La Mancha, Instituto de Regional Investigación Científica Aplicada (IRICA), Real, Spain, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biotecnologia—CCE, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, Departamento de Química e Ciências Ambientais, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
  Methods: 13C NMR, methylation, GC-MS, sugar analysis, conformation analysis, acid hydrolysis, FTIR, GPC, HPAEC-PAD, dialysis
  
   
  
  Botryosphaeria rhodina MMGR
  CSDB ID 41760 (all data & tools)
• Article ID: 8248
  Bohn JA, BeMiller JN "(1→3)-β-D-Glucans as biological response modifiers: a review of structure-functional activity relationships" - Carbohydrate Polymers 28(1) (1995) 3-14
  

  (1→3)-β-D-Glucans that have β-D-glucopyranosyl units attached by (1→6) linkages as single unit branches enhance the immune system systemically. This enhancement results in antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, anticoagulatory and wound healing activities. The (1→3)-β-D-glucan backbone is essential. The most active polymers have degrees of branching (DB) between 0.20 and 0.33. Data suggest both that triple helical structures formed from high molecular weight polymers are possibly important for immunopotentiating activity and that activity is independent of any specific ordered structure. Other data indicate that it is the distribution of the branch units along the backbone chain that is responsible for activity. There are data that indicate both that β-D-glucopyranosyl units are required for immunopotentiating activity and that the specific nature of the substituent is unimportant. There are also data that indicate both that the more water-soluble polymers are more active (up to a certain degree of substitution (DS) or DB) and that some insoluble aggregates are more stimulatory than the soluble polymers. The best conclusion at this time is that the immunopotentiating activity of (1→3)-β-D-glucans depends on a helical conformation and on the presence of hydrophilic groups located on the outside surface of the helix. Immunopotentiation effected by binding of a (1→3)-β-glucan molecule or particle probably includes activation of cytotoxic macrophages, helper T cells, and NK cells, promotion of T cell differentiation, and activation of the alternative complement pathway.

  structure-functional activity

  Publication DOI: 10.1016/0144-8617(95)00076-3
  Journal NLM ID: 8307156
  Publisher: Elsevier
  Institutions: Whistler Center for Carbohydrate Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA
  
   
  
  Ganoderma applanatum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Grifola umbellata, Volvariella volvacea, Peziza vesiculosa
  CSDB ID 46574 (all data & tools)
• Article ID: 9012
  Li X, He Y, Zeng P, Liu Y, Zhang M, Hao C, Wang H, Lv Z, Zhang L "Molecular basis for Poria cocos mushroom polysaccharide used as an antitumour drug in China" - Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 23(1) (2019) 4-20
  

  Poria cocos is an edible medicinal fungus known as "Fuling" in Chinese and has been used as a Chinese traditional medicine for more than two thousand years. Pharmacological studies reveal that polysaccharide is the most abundant substance in Poria cocos and has a wide range of biological activities including antitumour, immunomodulation, anti-inflammation, antioxidation, anti-ageing, antihepatitis, antidiabetics and anti-haemorrhagic fever effects. As a result, "Poria cocos polysaccharide oral solution" was developed and sold as an over-the-counter health supplement since 1970s. In 2015, "Polysaccharidum of Poria cocos oral solution" was approved as a drug by Chinese Food and Drug Administration for treating multiple types of cancers, hepatitis and other diseases alone or during chemo- or radiation therapy for patients with cancer. In this article, biochemical, preclinical and clinical studies of Poria cocos polysaccharide from 72 independent studies during the past 46 years (1970-2016) based on PubMed, VIP (Chongqing VIP Chinese Scientific Journals Database), CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and Wanfang database searches are summarized. The structure, pharmacological effects, clinical efficacy, immunobalancing molecular mechanism and toxicity of Poria cocos polysaccharide are deliberated to provide a general picture of Poria cocos polysaccharide as a clinically used antitumour drug.

  polysaccharides, Poria cocos, antitumour, clinical application, pharmacological activities

  NCBI PubMed ID: 30444050
  Publication DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13564
  Journal NLM ID: 101083777
  Publisher: Oxford, England: Wiley-Blackwell
  Correspondence: Zhang L
  Institutions: School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China, Medical Systems Biology Center for Complex Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
  
   
  
  Poria cocos
  CSDB ID 50018 (all data & tools)
• Article ID: 9020
  Li X, Ma L, Zhang L "Molecular basis for Poria cocos mushroom polysaccharide used as an antitumor drug in China" - Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science 163 (2019) 263-296
  

  Poria cocos is an edible mushroom known as "Fuling" in Chinese, which belongs to the fungus family of Polyporaceae. Poria cocos has been used as a Chinese traditional medicine for >2000 years. Indications for using it include promoting urination, to invigorate the spleen function, and to calm the mind. The bioactive components in Poria cocos include polysaccharides, triterpenoids, fatty acids, sterols, enzymes, etc. Poria cocos polysaccharide (PCP) accounts for 84% by weight among all constituents in the dried sclerotium. Biochemical and pharmacological studies reveal that PCP is the major bioactive component in Poria cocos and has a wide range of biological activities including antitumor, immunomodulation, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-aging, anti-hepatitis, anti-diabetes, and anti-hemorrhagic fever effects. As a result, "Poria cocos polysaccharide oral solution" was developed and sold as an over-the-counter health supplement since 1970s. In 2015, "Polysaccharidum of Poria cocos oral solution" was approved as a drug by Chinese Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) for treating multiple types of cancers, hepatitis, and other diseases alone or during chemo- or radiation therapy for cancer patients. In this article, biochemical, preclinical and clinical studies of Poria cocos polysaccharide from 74 independent studies during the past 46 years (1970-2018) based on PubMed, VIP (Chongqing VIP Chinese Scientific Journals Database), CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), and Wanfang database searches are summarized. The structure, pharmacological effects, clinical efficacy, immune regulatory molecular mechanisms, and toxicity of PCP are deliberated to provide the data basis for PCP to serve as a clinically used antitumor drug.

  polysaccharide, cancer, Poria cocos, adjunctive drug, anti-hemorrhagic fever, hepatitis, oral solution

  NCBI PubMed ID: 31030751
  Publication DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2019.02.011
  Journal NLM ID: 101498165
  Publisher: Amsterdam,Boston: Elsevier/AP
  Correspondence: Li X ; Zhang L
  Institutions: Systems Biology and Medicine Center for Complex Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China, Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
  
   
  
  Poria cocos
  CSDB ID 50027 (all data & tools)