Abstract:Beta（β）-glucan，one of the components of the yeast cell wall，has been shown to have a number of biological activities，including anti-tumor anti-infection activity and immune regulation.Because of its capacity to enhance the human immune system，β-glucan has attracted attention as a functional food additive.The current research focus is the development of β -glucan extraction methods that are efficient，rapid，environmentally friendly，and that meet purity requirements.In this review，we discuss and compare the different extraction methods，such as high-pressure microfluidic homogenization and ultrasonic methods.Further，we describe the current studies on the immune activity of β-glucan in both animal and cell models.