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Hypoglycemic Effect of Edible Fungi Polysaccharides Depends on Their Metabolites from the Fermentation of Human Fecal Microbiota

Summary

Edible mushrooms like Ganoderma lucidum, cordyceps, shiitake, and poria contain beneficial compounds called polysaccharides that may help control blood sugar. When these polysaccharides are digested by beneficial gut bacteria, they produce eight special metabolites that enhance the body’s ability to use glucose and improve insulin sensitivity. The research identified specific bacteria, such as Faecalibacterium and Coprococcus, that produce these beneficial metabolites, suggesting that measuring these markers could help evaluate which mushroom polysaccharides work best for diabetes prevention.

Background

Edible fungi contain bioactive polysaccharides with potential hypoglycemic properties. These polysaccharides are utilized by colonic microbiota rather than directly digested, producing metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids that may mediate therapeutic effects. Understanding which specific metabolites and bacteria are responsible for hypoglycemic activity could improve diabetes prevention and treatment strategies.

Objective

This study aimed to compare the hypoglycemic activity of different edible fungi polysaccharides after in vitro fermentation by human fecal bacteria and identify potential key metabolites and bacteria responsible for hypoglycemic effects using metabolomics and 16S rDNA analysis.

Results

Fermentation supernatants significantly increased glucose consumption and glycogen synthesis in IR-HepG2 cells and upregulated IRS-1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway genes. Eight metabolites (gingerglycolipid A, sphinganine 1-phosphate, matricin, tricarballylic acid, N-carbamoylputrescine, nomega-acetylhistamine, tyramine, benzamide) were identified as key metabolites positively correlated with hypoglycemic activity and bacterial abundance including Faecalibacterium, Coprococcus, and Bacteroides.

Conclusion

The hypoglycemic effects of edible fungi polysaccharides depend on specific metabolites produced during fecal microbiota fermentation. Key bacteria such as Faecalibacterium and Coprococcus produce metabolites that enhance glucose metabolism and reduce insulin resistance, suggesting these markers could evaluate hypoglycemic efficacy of different polysaccharides for diabetes prevention and treatment.
  • Published in:Foods,
  • Study Type:In Vitro Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMC10778959; PMID: 38201125
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