Exopolysaccharides of Fungal Origin: Properties and Pharmaceutical Applications

Fungal exopolysaccharides (EPSs) represent an important group of bioactive compounds secreted by fungi. These biopolymers can be utilized individually or in combination with different substances for a broad range pharmaceutical field applications, due to their various biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-diabetic, and anticoagulant effects. The paper presents up-to-date review the main fungal polysaccharides (pullulan, schizophyllan, scleroglucan, botryosphaeran, lentinan, grifolan, lasiodiplodan), highlighting structures, producing strains, useful properties double position, controlled release (rate selectively targeting) drug carriers, but mostly active immunomodulating antitumor cancer therapy.