A water soluble P-glucan having molecular weight similar to 2 x 10(5) Da was isolated from hot water extract of the fruit bodies of an edible mushroom Entoloma lividoalbum (Kuhner & Romagn) Kubicka. This polysaccharide (ELPS) contains (1 -> 3,6)-beta-D-Glcp, (1 -> 3)-13-beta-Glcp, (1 -> 6)-beta-D-Glcp, and terminal beta-D-Glcp moieties in a molar ratio of nearly 1:1:3:1. Chemical and spectroscopic analysis showed that the backbone of glucan consists of three (1 -> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl and two (1 -> 3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl residues, out of which one (I 3)-3-D-glucopyranosyl moiety was branched at 0-6 with a terminal p-D-glucopyranosyl residue. This beta-glucan exhibited macrophage, splenocyte, and thymocyte stimulations. It possesses promising antioxidant activities as evidenced from its hydroxyl and superoxide radical scavenging activities and reducing properties. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.