Bioactive Polysaccharides

Bioactive Polysaccharides offers a comprehensive review of the structures and bioactivities of bioactive polysaccharides isolated from traditional herbs, fungi, and seaweeds. It describes and discusses specific topics based on the authors’ rich experience, including extraction technologies, practical techniques required for purification and fractionation, strategies and skills for elucidating the fine structures, in-vitro and in-vivo protocols, and methodologies for evaluating the specific bioactivities, including immune-modulating activities, anti-cancer activities, anti-oxidant activities, and others.

This unique book also discusses partial structure-functionality (bioactivities) relationships based on conformational studies. This comprehensive work can be used as a handbook to explore potential applications in foods, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceutical areas for commercial interests.

Serves as a comprehensive review on extraction technologies, and as a practical guide for the purification and fractionation of bioactive polysaccharidesBrings step-by-step strategies for elucidating the fine structures and molecular characterizations of bioactive polysaccharidesIncludes detailed experimental design and methodologies for investigation bioactivities using both in-vitro and in-vivo protocolsClarifies how to extract, purify, and fractionate bioactive polysaccharides, also exploring health benefits Useful as a guide to explore the commercial potentials of bioactive polysaccharides as pharmaceuticals, medicine, and functional foods

1. Introduction 2. Methodologies for studying bioactive polysaccharides 3. Beta-Glucans from Fungi 4. Curdlan and derivatives 5. Dendronan from Dendrobium officinale and Aloe 6. Complex Glucomannan from Ganoderma atrum 7. Cordyceps Polysaccharides 8. Tea Polysaccharides 9. Psyllium Polysaccharides 10. Other Herbal Polysaccharides