Antioxidative and immunomodulating activities of polysaccharide extracts of the medicinal mushrooms Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus brasiliensis, Ganoderma lucidum and Phellinus linteus

► Mushroom polysaccharide extracts (PSE) contain both α and β glucans. ► Scavenging activity of Phellinus linteus and Ganoderma lucidum PSE is almost as ascorbate. ► Their reducing power is 30× higher than that of Agaricus bisporus PSE. ► Phellinus linteus PSE inhibits in vitro IFN-γ synthesis.