Chemical and biological properties of a highly branched β-glucan from edible mushroom Pleurotus sajor-caju

► P. sajor-caju presented a highly branched (1→3), (1→6) β-d-glucan. ► β-glucan activated macrophages and induced NO synthesis and cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β. ► Effects presented by P. sajor-caju β-glucan showed to be very similar to that of LPS. ► When macrophages were activated with LPS, NO release and cytokines were not affected.