Antrodia cinnamomea reduces obesity and modulates the gut microbiota in high-fat diet-fed mice

Abstract

Background:Obesity is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis, disrupted intestinal barrier and chronic inflammation. Given the high and increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide, anti-obesity treatments that are safe, effective and widely available would be beneficial. We examined whether the medicinal mushroom Antrodia cinnamomea may reduce obesity in mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD).Methods:Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a HFD for 8 weeks to induce obesity and chronic inflammation. The mice were treated with a water extract of A. cinnamomea (WEAC), and body weight, fat accumulation, inflammation markers, insulin sensitivity and the gut microbiota were monitored.Results:After 8 weeks, the mean body weight of HFD-fed mice was 39.8±1.2 g compared with 35.8±1.3 g for the HFD+1% WEAC group, corresponding to a reduction of 4 g or 10% of body weight (P<0.0001). WEAC supplementation reduced fat accumulation and serum triglycerides in a statistically significant manner in HFD-fed mice. WEAC also reversed the effects of HFD on inflammation markers (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α), insulin resistance and adipokine production (leptin and adiponectin). Notably, WEAC increased the expression of intestinal tight junctions (zonula occludens-1 and occludin) and antimicrobial proteins (Reg3g and lysozyme C) in the small intestine, leading to reduced blood endotoxemia. Finally, WEAC modulated the composition of the gut microbiota, reducing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and increasing the level of Akkermansia muciniphila and other bacterial species associated with anti-inflammatory properties.Conclusions:Supplementation with A. cinnamomea produces anti-obesogenic, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects in HFD-fed mice by maintaining intestinal integrity and modulating the gut microbiota.

The Regulatory Effects of a Formulation of Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kaneh and Taiwanofungus camphoratus on Metabolic Syndrome and the Gut Microbiome

“…It is no surprise that our results are similar to previous studies [17,[28][29][30][31] showing that both CO and TC efficiently controlled impaired glucose metabolism and improved hyperglycemia. However, our results are inconsistent with previous studies in that TC did not inhibit weight gain or reduce lipid accumulation [28][29][30]. This might be due to the longer-term high-fat diet induction experiment (HFD for 24 weeks) in our study.…”

“…Previous studies have shown that TC can reduce obesity and attenuate hyperglycemia in rodents, and may act by regulating the composition of the gut microbiota [28][29][30]. It has also been confirmed that CO inhibits hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia [17,31].…”

“…This might be due to the longer-term high-fat diet induction experiment (HFD for 24 weeks) in our study. This is much longer than other studies (HFD for 12 weeks) [28,29]. Furthermore, our experimental design made mice obese (HFD induction for ten weeks) before starting the medication.…”

Dietary Intake of Pleurotus eryngii Ameliorated Dextran‐Sodium‐Sulfate‐Induced Colitis in Mice

“…Akkermanisia could reduce chronic inflammation and restore intestinal barrier function in murine model, indicating a correlation between the abundance of Akkermansia and the degree of inflammation . Also, it was found that increased abundance of Akkermanais co‐occurred with partial protection against inflammation in mice fed A. cinnamomea water extract . Furthermore, recent studies showed that sulfate‐reducing bacteria, including Desulfovibrionaceae , were potential endotoxin producers leading to low grade and chronic inflammation .…”

“…Emerging evidence has shown that colitis can promote colon carcinogenesis by altering the composition of gut microbiota, impairing barrier function and facilitating the expansion of bacteria with genotoxic capability . Targeting the gut microbiota with prebiotic mushrooms ( Ganoderma lucidum and Antrodia cinnamomea ) has been shown to produce beneficial effects on diet‐induced obesity and low‐grade inflammation . Certain prebiotic components of mushrooms such as glucans have also been reported to be anti‐inflammatory in the colon .…”