Auricularia auricula‐judae (Bull.) polysaccharides improve type 2 diabetes in HFD/STZ‐induced mice by regulating the AKT/AMPK signaling pathways and the gut microbiota

Auricularia auricula-judae is an edible fungus with high nutritional value due to abundant polysaccharides, and is acknowledged as traditional food and medicine in Asia. Polysaccharides from A. auricula (AAPs) are typically fungal polysaccharides and have a wide range of biological activities. It has been shown the potential of AAPs to improve diabetes as an effective adjuvant, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we explored the effects and potential mechanism of AAPs on type 2 diabetes (T2D) using a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ) induced C57BL/6J mice. The results indicated that 50 and 100 mg/kg AAPs significantly decreased inflammation, liver injury, and insulin resistance. In addition, AAPs improved glycolipid metabolism disorders by activating the AKT and adenosine 5`monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathways in T2D mice. Furthermore, we investigated the association between changes of gut microbiota and AAPs effects using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rDNA for fecal samples. In our study, AAPs elevated gut microbiota diversity and optimized microbial composition and function in T2D mice, characterized by increased Lactobacillus and Bacteroides abundance and decreased Clostridium and Allobaculum abundance. Particularly, AAPs intervention mainly affected the amino acid metabolism and glycolipid metabolism pathways. Overall, this study confirms that AAPs can improve type 2 diabetes by regulating the AKT and AMPK pathways and modulating intestinal microbiota. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The article systematically verified the positive effects of AAPs on insulin resistance, glycolipid metabolism disorder, inflammation, and liver injury, key factors closely related to T2D. Furthermore, our study firstly determined the specific underlying mechanism that AAPs ameliorates T2D through regulating AKT/AMPK pathways and modifying the gut microbiota. These results could offer a full explanation and a potential option for the adjuvant therapy of diabetes with AAPs.