Isolation, Structure, and Biological Activities of Exopolysaccharides from Actinomycetes: A Review

In recent years, exopolysaccharides (EPSs) from actinomycetes have become a significant focus of research due to their diverse biological activities, including antitumor, antiviral, and immunoregulatory effects. This article reviews recent advancements in the study of EPSs from actinomycetes, summarizing findings from existing literature on extraction methods, structural characteristics, and biological activities. Various extraction methods can impact the purity and quality of EPSs obtained from actinomycetes. In addition, EPSs produced by different species of actinomycetes exhibit diverse structures, leading to variations in their biological activities. Future research should focus on optimizing current extraction methods or developing new techniques, exploring the relationship between structural characteristics and biological activities of EPSs, and elucidating their molecular mechanisms of action. Such efforts are essential for the comprehensive study and potential applications of EPSs from actinomycetes.