Computational Molecular Biology 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 53-64 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/cmb 54 neither damages the polysaccharide structure nor has a low efficiency. Ultrasonic extraction is more interesting. Cells can be "shaken apart" by the vibration of sound waves. It is said that it can be done in as fast as 15 minutes, which is more time-saving and power-saving than traditional methods. Although these techniques are still relatively new, experimental data show that they can not only increase the yield but also provide better protection for polysaccharide activity (Wang and Huang, 2024). Of course, the high cost of equipment investment is a practical issue. However, in the long run, the environmental protection advantages are indeed obvious. This research mainly aims to examine whether enzymatic and ultrasonic extraction are reliable for Cordyceps polysaccharides. To put it bluntly, the goal is to find an extraction solution that is both efficient and environmentally friendly. Of course, merely looking at the extraction effect is not enough; the cost issue in actual application also needs to be taken into account-after all, no matter how good the technology is, if it costs too much money, it will be in vain. In fact, it has been discovered before that these two methods are indeed stronger than the old one in protecting the activity of polysaccharides, but exactly how to operate in the most cost-effective way really requires careful consideration. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a practical green extraction process, enabling Cordyceps polysaccharides to be better applied in fields such as medicine. However, then again, for new technologies to completely replace traditional methods, it is estimated that many practical problems still need to be solved. 2 Basic Properties and Functions of Cordyceps Polysaccharides 2.1 Chemical composition and structural characteristics When it comes to the components of Cordyceps polysaccharides, they are actually quite complex. It is mainly a combination of monosaccharides such as glucose and mannose (Guan et al., 2010), but the specific proportion depends on the source. For example, when extracted from Cordyceps mycelium, glucose and galactose are particularly abundant. Other substances like rhamnose are also present, but in much smaller amounts (Xiao et al., 2012). Interestingly, these sugar molecules are not randomly linked together-they are often connected through special bond positions such as β-1,3 (Liu et al., 2016). Some studies have found that the main chain of some Cordyceps polysaccharides is α -D-glucopyranose, along with some branched structures. Although these structural details may seem insignificant, it is precisely they that determine whether polysaccharides can act as antioxidants and regulate immunity (Cheong et al., 2016). However, it should be noted that the structures of polysaccharides extracted from different strains may vary significantly, which is why there are differences in their active performances. 2.2 Pharmacological effects of Cordyceps polysaccharides Cordyceps polysaccharides have indeed been quite popular in recent years, mainly because they can do so many things. Let's talk about antioxidants first. Polysaccharides extracted fromCordyceps militaris have a special set against free radicals, and this property makes it very popular in the health supplement circle. It is also quite amazing in terms of immune regulation. In experiments, it can be seen that it makes lymphosplenocytes lively and active (Luo et al., 2017). What is even more surprising is its anti-cancer potential. Some cancer cells really can't grow when they encounter it (Zhu et al., 2016). It has also been recently discovered that it may be useful in dealing with inflammation (Xu et al., 2023). However, to be honest, although the laboratory data is very impressive, when it comes to clinical application, practical issues such as dosage and administration methods still need to be taken into consideration. After all, polysaccharides have a complex structure. The effects obtained from different sources and by different extraction methods may vary greatly. 2.3 Market demand and the necessity of green extraction Nowadays, when shopping, people all emphasize natural and environmentally friendly products. The extraction method of Cordyceps polysaccharides also needs to keep up with this trend. Those old methods in the past were indeed not very effective. They were energy-consuming and environmentally polluting. Now, using ultrasound or enzymes to assist in extraction yields better results-not only can more polysaccharides be extracted and their activity maintained well (Yang et al., 2017), but the key point is that the environmental protection indicators have improved. This transformation is not only a technological advancement but also reflects the changes in the overall
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