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Process-Programmed Extraction–Structure–Activity Relationships (ESAR) in edible and medicinal mushroom polysaccharides: a mechanistic and application-oriented framework
Process-Programmed Extraction–Structure–Activity Relationships (ESAR) in edible and medicinal mushroom polysaccharides: a mechanistic and application-oriented framework
Cunchao Zhao
(College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, China; Yunnan Plateau Characteristic Agricultural Industry Research Institute, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Personalized Food Manufacturing, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Engineering Research Center of Development and Utilization of Food and Drug Homologous Resources, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China)
Muhammad Aaqil
(College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China)
Rui He
(Beijing Plant Doctor Biotechnology Co., Ltd., China)
Muhammad Kamil
(College of Management and Economics, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650201, China)
Jingchuan Zheng
(College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China)
Yuwei Guo
(College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China)
Zhen Zhang
(College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China)
Taufiq Nawaz
(Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA)
Feng Zhang
(College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China)
Lijun You
(School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, China; Corresponding author.)
Yang Tian
(College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Personalized Food Manufacturing, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Engineering Research Center of Development and Utilization of Food and Drug Homologous Resources, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Corresponding author at: College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China.)
Journal: Journal of Advanced Research
•
• Elsevier
• ISSN: 2090-1232
Abstract
Background: Edible and medicinal mushroom polysaccharides (EMMPs) display wide-ranging bioactivities, yet progress has been limited by siloed workflows. Extraction, structural analysis, and biological evaluation are often conducted independently, obscuring how processing parameters shape polymer architecture and, consequently, biological function. This fragmentation contributes to inconsistent outcomes and poor reproducibility across studies. Aim of the review: To bridge these gaps, this review (2020–2025) applies an extraction-driven structure–activity relationship (ESAR) framework that directly links processing conditions to structural features, mechanisms, and functional outcomes. It prioritizes well-characterized β-glucans where defined structural features allow direct mapping from extraction parameters to molecular architecture and biological effects. The objective is to shift the field from “finding an active extract” to engineering process-defined polymer architectures that deliver targeted mechanisms and reproducible, application-specific outcomes.Key scientific concepts of the review: Within ESAR, extraction variables such as solvent system, temperature, pH, and enzymatic or physical assistance influence branching patterns, molecular-weight distributions, and conformational features such as triple-helix stability. These structural attributes in turn influence bioactivity by governing receptor engagement and activation pathways. Comparative analyses across representative β-glucans reveal that differences in molecular weight ranges, branching patterns, and helix/coil conformations account for the distinct potencies observed across studies. It also clarifies common sources of variability related to strain differences, cultivation substrate, processing severity, and analytical methods. This review introduces ESAR as a unifying framework that converts fragmented polysaccharide studies into predictive design principles for real-world translation. It demonstrates how extraction-defined molecular engineering can drive reproducible development of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and adjuvant therapeutics. Such reproducibility is essential for translating laboratory findings into reliable industrial and clinical applications.
Cunchao Zhao, Muhammad Aaqil, Rui He, et al. (2026). "Process-Programmed Extraction–Structure–Activity Relationships (ESAR) in edible and medicinal mushroom polysaccharides: a mechanistic and application-oriented framework". Journal of Advanced Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2025.12.040