Recent Developments in Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) Polysaccharides: Isolation, Structural Characteristics, Biological Activities and Application

Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) is a kind of medicine and health food widely used by folk in China, Russia, Korea, and some occidental countries. Among the extracts from Inonotus obliquus, Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide (IOPS) is supposed to be one of the major bioactive components in Inonotus obliquus, which possesses antitumor, antioxidant, anti-virus, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities. In this review, the current advancements on extraction, purification, structural characteristics, and biological activities of IOPS were summarized. This review can provide significant insight into the IOPS bioactivities as their in vitro and in vivo data were summarized, and some possible mechanisms were listed. Furthermore, applications of IOPS were reviewed and discussed; IOPS might be a potential candidate for the treatment of cancers and type 2 diabetes. Besides, new perspectives for the future work of IOPS were also proposed.

Automated summary

Inonotus obliquus, commonly known as Chaga mushroom, is widely used as a medicinal and health food in various countries. Its polysaccharide component, IOPS, is believed to possess significant bioactive properties such as anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-viral, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities. Research on the extraction, purification, structural characteristics, and biological activities of IOPS has advanced, with potential applications for the treatment of cancers and type 2 diabetes. New perspectives for future work on IOPS have also been proposed.