Digestive Characteristics of Hericium erinaceus Polysaccharides and Their Positive Effects on Fecal Microbiota of Male and Female Volunteers During in vitro Fermentation

Abstract

Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides (HEPs) have attracted widespread attention in regulating gut microbiota (GM). To investigate digestibility and fermentation of HEPs and their effects on GM composition, three polysaccharide fractions, namely, HEP-30, HEP-50, and HEP-70, were fractionally precipitated with 30%, 50%, and 70% ethanol concentrations (v/v) from hot water-soluble extracts of Hericium erinaceus, respectively. Three kinds of prepared HEPs were structurally characterized and simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and their effects on human fecal microbiota fermentations of male and female and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in vitro were clarified. Under digestive conditions simulating saliva, stomach, and small intestine, HEPs were not significantly influenced and safely reached the distal intestine. After 24 h of in vitro fermentation, the content of SCFAs was significantly enhanced (p < 0.05), and the retention rates of total and reducing sugars and pH value were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Thus, HEPs could be utilized by GM, especially HEP-50, and enhanced the relative abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria, e.g., Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, Blautia, Butyricicoccus, and Lactobacillus. Furthermore, HEPs reduced the relative abundances of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, e.g., Escherichia-Shigella, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter. This study suggests that gradual ethanol precipitation is available for the preparation of polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus, and the extracted polysaccharide could be developed as functional foods with great development value.

Effects of several flavonoids on human gut microbiota and its metabolism by in vitro simulated fermentation

“…Based on a previous method ( Pi et al, 2022 ; Tian et al, 2022 ), metaphosphoric acid of 2.5 g was added to ddH 2 O at constant volume to 100 mL, and the mass-to-volume ratio (W/V) of the prepared metaphosphoric acid solution was 2.5%. Then, 0.6464 g of crotonic acid was weighed and added to the metaphosphate solution at constant volume to 100 mL, and the crotonic acid–metaphosphoric acid solution was obtained after even mixing.…”

Modulating effects of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides on the immune response by regulating gut microbiota in cyclophosphamide‐treated mice

“…The fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus were provided by Changshan Haofeng Agricultural Development Co., Ltd (Quzhou, China). The HEP was prepared using a method reported previously 11 . The fruiting body was dried in an oven at 50 °C for 10 h, crushed, and passed through a 50 mesh sieve, and then degreased with 95% ethanol for 24 h at room temperature.…”

“…Accumulating studies have shown that HEP can improve the immune function of the body, while the efficacy and mechanism of immune regulation need to be further studied. Based on our previous in vitro studies, HEP could be utilized by GM, and enhanced the relative abundance of SCFA‐producing bacteria and SCFA production, reduced opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, and could be developed as functional foods with great development value 11 . However, few studies have investigated the effect of HEP on immunosuppression mice induced by CTX by regulating GM with functional foods.…”

Hericium erinaceus Mycelium Ameliorates In Vivo Progression of Osteoarthritis

“…However, the undesirable side effects of these synthetic agents make the discovery of anti-OA ingredients from natural products an attractive proposition. Hericium erinaceus is a large edible mushroom that is popularly consumed in Asian countries and is accepted as a dietary supplement or functional food [12,13]. H. erinaceus is rich in bioactive compounds including glycoproteins, polysaccharides and ketones [14].…”