Antitumor activity of sulfated extracellular polysaccharides of Ganoderma lucidum from the submerged fermentation broth

► The inactive extracellular polysaccharides became in vitro antitumor by sulfation. ► The in vitro inhibition is dose and degree of substitution-dependent on HepG2 cells. ► The polysaccharides presented high but dose-independent in vivo inhibition. ► Products with same DS from different sulfating reagents had different activities.