Yeast β-glucan is a natural, water-soluble polysaccharide composed of glucose units linked primarily by β-1,3-glycosidic bonds in the main chain and β-1,6-glycosidic bonds in the side chains. It is an ingredient that exhibits excellent biocompatibility, exceptionally high immunomodulatory activity, and potent moisturizing properties, making it suitable for a wide range of skin-care and personal-care cosmetics, as well as pharmaceuticals and health-food applications.

Product Introduction to Yeast β-Glucan

01 Molecular Structure Diagram of Yeast β-Glucan

02 Microscopic Image of Yeast β-Glucan

Yeast β-glucan magnified 450-fold	Yeast β-glucan magnified 5,500-fold

03 Mechanism of Action of CM-Glucan

Beneath the skin’s stratum corneum lies an immune network composed of Langerhans dendritic cells, whose dendrites extend into the stratum corneum and serve as specific receptors for β-glucans. The characteristic planar helical structure of β-1,3-D-glucan can bind to cell-membrane receptors, inducing conformational changes that activate macrophages and stimulate the secretion of cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, GM-CSF, EGF, TNF-α, and angiogenic factors. Among these, epidermal growth factor promotes the synthesis of collagen and elastin in aging, fine-wrinkled skin, thereby improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of fine lines. Meanwhile, soluble yeast β-glucan, with its unique semi-rigid chain conformation, can both specifically bind to immune receptors to modulate immune responses and directly act on skin-repair cells to promote regeneration; it also exhibits dual moisturizing and antioxidant effects through physical film-forming properties and biological regulatory mechanisms. (Excerpted from: “Applications of β-Glucan in Cosmetics,” by Yan Mingqiang)

Characteristics of Keshang Yeast β-Glucan

01 All-Natural Extracted from yeast cell walls using a patented enzymatic hydrolysis process, with no artificial synthetic additives.

02 High Activity Retains the intact helical structure of the β-1,3/1,6 glycosidic bond, exhibiting outstanding biological activity.

03 High Purity Purity > 95%, no organic solvent residues, and extremely low impurity levels.

04 Water-soluble Under ambient conditions, it exhibits excellent water solubility (a 1% aqueous solution is clear and transparent).

05 Multifunctionality It delivers multiple benefits, including immune modulation, moisturizing and water-locking, and repair and soothing, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

Experimental Data on Yeast β-Glucan

01 Barrier Repair and Accelerated Skin Healing

The chi-square test was used to compare the complete ulcer healing rates at Week 8 across different analysis sets (ITT-Patient, ITT-Ulcer, PP-Patient, and PP-Ulcer), in order to assess differences in treatment efficacy between the two regimens; P-values are presented in the figure. (Excerpted from: “Soluble Yeast β-1,3/1,6-Glucan as a Macrophage Stimulant for Local Treatment of Diabetic Foot and Leg Ulcers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Study,” by Svetlana N. Zikova.)

This study demonstrates that yeast β-glucan can accelerate skin wound healing by activating immune cells, scavenging excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the site of inflammation, and suppressing excessive inflammatory responses. At the same time, it potently promotes angiogenesis, induces the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts and inflammatory cells, and accelerates epidermal hyperplasia, thereby effectively reducing the area of venous ulcer wounds. Through synergistic effects across multiple pathways—anti-inflammation, pro-angiogenesis, and cellular repair—it achieves high-quality, efficient skin wound repair and ulcer healing.

02 Antioxidant and Anti-Aging

As shown in the above figure, the scavenging rates of WSYG against superoxide anions and DPPH radicals both increase with increasing mass concentration, exhibiting a positive dose–response relationship. At a WSYG concentration of 0.004 mg/mL, the superoxide anion scavenging rate is 62.12%, and its IC ₅₀ Its DPPH radical scavenging capacity is 0.0315 μg/mL, comparable to that of vitamin C (0.0327 μg/mL); at a concentration of 4.0 mg/mL, the DPPH radical scavenging rate reaches 52.22%, indicating strong scavenging activity, though slightly lower than that of vitamin C at the same concentration. In summary, WSYG is an excellent free-radical scavenger. (Continued from: Preparation of Water-Soluble Yeast β-Glucan and Its In Vitro Antioxidant and Hypoglycemic Activities, Author: Li Saifen.)

• Differences in Antioxidant Capacity Among Three Prepared Yeast β-Glucans

The DPPH radical-scavenging capacities of three β-glucans were determined at a wavelength of 517 nm, and the results revealed significant differences in antioxidant activity among the various β-glucans. As the sample concentration increased, the DPPH scavenging rates of all polysaccharides rose gradually, reaching their maximum at a concentration of 25 mg/mL. The order of antioxidant capacity was as follows: aqueous extract of yeast β-glucan (85.07%) > hd-sBBG (69.11%) > ad-sB-BG (47.21%). Water-soluble yeast β-glucan dose-dependently enhanced serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, thereby improving the body’s antioxidant status by scavenging free radicals and inhibiting reactive oxygen species–induced damage, demonstrating excellent antioxidant efficacy. (Excerpted from: Preparation, Characterization, and Functional Evaluation of Soluble Yeast β-Glucan, Author: Zhao Chaofan)

03 Moisturizing

Beta-glucan forms a breathable, moisturizing film on the skin’s surface to physically lock in moisture, while simultaneously activating aquaporin-3 and promoting the expression of tight junction proteins, thereby enhancing the skin’s intrinsic water-retention capacity and barrier function from within. This dual “external locking, internal modulation” mechanism gives beta-glucan superior short- and long-term moisturizing performance compared with conventional humectants such as glycerin.