Role of a low-molecular-weight polysaccharide from Boletus edulis Bull: Fr. in modulating gut microbiota and metabolic disorders

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Boletus edulis Bull: Fr. polysaccharide (BEP), extracted using a deep eutectic solvent based on l -lactic acid and glycine, on glucose and lipid metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. The primary mechanism by which BEP improves symptoms of glucose and lipid imbalances involves the modulation of gut microbiota. Key beneficial bacteria, including S24–7 , Lachnospiraceae , [Prevotella], and Lactobacillus , were significantly enriched in the intestines of BEP-treated mice, with abundances 2.48-, 1.62-, 6.33- and 2.60-fold higher, respectively, compared to the HFD group. In contrast, the abundance of harmful bacteria, particularly Desulfovibrio , was reduced by 1.81-fold. These microbial shifts contributed to the alleviation of intestinal mucus layer damage and a 50 % reduction in serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, a key driver of systemic inflammation, compared to the HFD group. As a result, BEP effectively inhibited LPS-induced activation of the hepatic TLR4/Myd88/MAPK signaling pathway, thereby normalizing the expression of proteins related to glucose and lipid metabolism. A fecal microbiota transplantation study further demonstrated that the gut microbiota changes induced by BEP were central to its anti-metabolic syndrome effects. Overall, BEP may serve as a dietary supplement for preventing and treating diet-induced metabolism disorders by targeting the gut microbiota.