Ophiocordyceps sinensis (CS) has been used medicinally for at least 500 years. O. sinensis polysaccharides (CSP)

as one of the major bioactive constituents of CS

have exhibited extensive therapeutic effect. Analysis shows that CSPs contain complex compositions

so the isolation

purification

analysis and identification of individual compositions are significant for research on complex pharmacological mechanism of CSP and CS. In recent years

many studies on CSPs

especially the isolation and pharmacological mechanism research of individual compositions have been carried out

indicating that CSPs have varied pharmacological effects such as immune-modulatory

anti-cancer

anti-oxidation

anti-hyperglycemia and anti-hyperlipidemia

with broad appli-cation prospects. The current progress on pharmacological research and future prospects are reviewed in this paper.