Protective Mechanism of Auricularia auricula Polysaccharides Against Acute Alcoholic Liver Injury Is Related to Different Consumption Doses

ABSTRACT This study investigated the dose‐dependent protective effects of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AAP) against acute alcoholic liver injury (AALI) via the gut‐liver axis in mice. Results indicated that low‐, medium‐, and high‐dose (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) AAP conferred protection through distinct mechanisms. The low dose alleviated hepatic steatosis by reducing hepatic triglyceride content (0.041 mmol/g prot vs. EtOH group 0.094 mmol/g prot). The medium dose demonstrated potent antioxidant activity, enhancing hepatic catalase (7.02 U/mg prot vs. EtOH 3.28 U/mg prot), superoxide dismutase (107.70 U/mg prot vs. EtOH 81.07 U/mg prot), and glutathione peroxidase (30.08 U/mg prot vs. EtOH 21.99 U/mg prot), while reducing malondialdehyde levels (0.135 nmol/mg prot vs. EtOH 0.309 nmol/mg prot). The high dose excelled at restoring liver function, lowering serum alanine aminotransferase (10.10 U/L vs. EtOH 29.86 U/L) and aspartate aminotransferase activity (24.85 U/L vs. EtOH 35.62 U/L), and exerted anti‐inflammatory effects by suppressing TNF‐α (459.9 pg/mL vs. EtOH 716.7 pg/mL), IL‐1β (333.4 pg/mL vs. EtOH 621.4 pg/mL), and IL‐6 (83.3 pg/mL vs. EtOH 162.9 pg/mL). All AAP treatments elevated characteristic beneficial bacteria including Bacteroides , Muribaculum , and Parabacteroides . These findings demonstrate AAP protects against AALI through coordinated, dose‐specific mechanisms that ameliorate hepatic damage and reshape intestinal flora.