pachyman

Pachyman is a naturally occurring beta-glucan polysaccharide extracted from the sclerotium of the edible medicinal fungus *Poria cocos* (Fuling). Chemically, it consists of a beta-(1→3)-D-glucan backbone with beta-(1→6)-D-glucan branches. Pachyman acts as a ligand for C-type lectin domain family 7 member A (Dectin-1), a pattern-recognition receptor expressed on myeloid cells and certain T-cell subpopulations. Research led by Johns Hopkins University has demonstrated that oral administration of pachyman modulates the gut-immune-brain axis, inhibiting the activation of colonic Dectin-1+ macrophages and gamma-delta 17 T cells. This mechanism has been shown to reverse psychosocial and cognitive deficits, social avoidance, and depressive-like behaviors in preclinical models of chronic social defeat stress and EcoHIV infection.

Other names

1,3-beta-D-glucanbeta-pachymanPoria cocos polysaccharidePoria glucan