Research progress on Cordyceps militaris polysaccharides

Cordyceps militaris is a famous medicinal and edible fungus, whose polysaccharides are important biologically active substances. In recent years, the molecular structure and pharmacological functions of C. militaris polysaccharides were fully studied. However, the potential mechanism of their pharmacological functions and their chemical modification have not been systematically elucidated. Moreover, the obtention and usage of C. militaris polysaccharides present several issues, including low polysaccharide yields and poor pharmacological functions in industrial production. This review presents the latest results on the pharmacological mechanism of C. militaris, including information on how to improve C. militaris industrial production through stabilization of the strain to prevent degeneration and chemical modifications of its polysaccharides. In addition, this article examines C. militaris fermentation conditions, the polysaccharides extraction methods developed for industrial production, and the strategies to increase the yield of polysaccharides and improve their pharmacological functions. This review could provide a theoretical basis for future research on C. militaris polysaccharides, and also serve as an important reference value in the field of functional foods and medicine.