Polysaccharides derived from the Agaricus genus have garnered considerable attention due to their diverse biological activities and potential applications in functional foods and pharmaceuticals. This review focuses on the preparation methods, structure-activity relationships, and underlying biological mechanisms of Agaricus polysaccharides. Key advances in their extraction and purification techniques, structural characterization using modern analytical tools, and their association with biological activities are discussed. The role of polysaccharide structure, including glycosidic linkages, branching degrees, and molecular weight, in determining their physicochemical properties and biofunctions is highlighted. Moreover, the biological mechanisms underpinning their antitumor, immunomodulatory, antioxidant effects are elaborated. Finally, future perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for developing Agaricus polysaccharides as functional biomaterials are provided.

Medicinal fungi, due to their high nutritional and medicinal value along with safety, are regarded as invaluable resources for the discovery of new pharmaceuticals. Naematelia aurantialba, commonly known as the golden ear mushroom, is a rare medicinal and edible fungus in China, renowned for its rich nutritional profile and safety for consumption. It has a long-standing history of use in traditional medicine, with ancient texts frequently citing its benefits for liver protection and its efficacy in alleviating cough and phlegm. Modern pharmacological studies have revealed that the N. aurantialba contains various bioactive compounds and nutritional constituents, exhibiting multiple pharmacological activities, including hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and anticoagulant effects. This review synthesizes the current literature on the active components, medicinal and nutritional values, and the cultivation history of this species, aiming to provide a reference for the rational development of N. aurantialba in health food and medical fields.

The family Diatrypaceae is a less well-known group within the order Xylariales (Ascomycota). Initially, the focus on its metabolites was related to the pathogenicity of one of its members, Eutypa lata. To date, a total of 254 natural products have been identified from Diatrypaceae strains. These compounds include terpenoids, sterols, polyketones, phenols, and acetylene aromatic compounds, which have shown anticancer, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities. The complex and diverse structural types, along with the diverse bioactivities, highlight the potential of Diatrypaceae as a valuable source of bioactive natural products. In this review, a deep analysis of the biosynthesis of pimarane diterpenes and scoparasin-type cytochalasins is provided, coupled with a compilation of the biosynthetic pathways of aromatic acetylene compounds in filamentous fungi. This comprehensive review not only enhances our understanding of the natural product chemistry, biological activities, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites from the Diatrypaceae family but also promotes the exploitation and development of important bioactive compounds and potential strains.