Fungal Polysaccharides as Modulators of Molecular Pathways in Liver Health

Fungal polysaccharides represent a structurally diverse group of bioactive compounds with increasing recognition for their hepatoprotective potential. This review synthesizes current evidence on their roles in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases, including alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), or toxin-induced injury. The analyzed studies demonstrate that polysaccharides isolated from species such as Lentinula edodes, Grifola frondosa, Ganoderma lucidum, Coriolus versicolor, and Cordyceps militaris exert beneficial effects by reducing oxidative stress, attenuating inflammation, and improving metabolic homeostasis. Mechanistically, these effects are mediated through the regulation of multiple signaling pathways, including Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), Nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, as well as modulation of gut microbiota. Fungal polysaccharides were also shown to improve hepatic function by lowering serum biomarkers of liver injury and ameliorating histopathological damage. Presented evidence indicates that fungal polysaccharides possess considerable potential as multifunctional hepatoprotective agents, highlighting the need for further mechanistic insight and clinical validation.