Preparation, structure and application of polysaccharides from Poria cocos

Abstract

Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCPs) are fungal polysaccharides derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Poria cocos. They are considered an important active ingredient for their pharmacological activity. Herein, the extraction, separation and purification, structure, and application of PCPs are reviewed. Additional research is necessary to fully understand the advanced structure of PCPs, which has implications for their structure–activity relationship. Their application mostly involves the medical industry, with less involvement in other fields. This article highlights the current research status on PCPs in the above-mentioned areas and some problems that need to be solved in future research. Additionally, it points the way for further studies on PCPs in the hopes that they will be more widely and realistically used in various industries.