Extracellular polysaccharide biosynthesis inCordyceps

Cordycepsis a parasitic edible fungus with a variety of metabolically active ingredients. The main active ingredient, extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), shows favourable application prospects in prevention and treatment of certain diseases. EPS extracted from different parts of variousCordycepsspecies can be used in health foods or medicinal preparations because of the structural diversity and multiple bioactivities. In terms of the complexity of composition and structure, researchers have speculated on the anabolic pathways of EPSs and the genes involved in the synthesis process. Studies to increase the yield of polysaccharides are limited because the synthesis pathways and anabolic regulation mechanisms ofCordycepsexopolysaccharide remain unknown. This review summarises the current researches in the yield ofCordycepspolysaccharides. A mechanism for the biosynthesis ofCordycepspolysaccharides was proposed by referring to the polysaccharide synthesis in other species. Furthermore, we also discuss the future perspective and ongoing challenges of EPS in uses of health foods and pharmaceutics.