Cordyceps militaris polysaccharides modulate gut microbiota and improve metabolic disorders in mice with diet‐induced obesity

BACKGROUND: Cordyceps militaris is an edible and medicinal fungus, and its polysaccharides are among its main pharmacological components. They can display immunomodulation, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-hypolipidemic, and other functions. The anti-obesity effect of C. militaris polysaccharides (CMP) is not yet fully understood, however. RESULTS: In this study, a CMP diet intervention was applied over a 4 week period to mice with obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD), followed by profiling of obesity-induced dyslipidemia, low-grade inflammation, and gut dysbiosis. The results suggested that CMP could significantly reduce HFD-induced obesity, alleviate obesity-induced hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance, and ameliorate systemic inflammation, showing a promising ability to protect mice from obesity. Further analyses revealed that CMP could regulate obesity-induced gut dysbiosis by restoring the phylogenetic diversity of gut microbiota. It could also increase the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, while down-regulating the level of bacteria that were positively related to the development of obesity. A correlation analysis showed that Helicobacter, Allobaculum, Clostridium XVIII, Parabacteroides, Ligilactobacillus, Faecalibaculum, Adlercreutzia, and Mediterraneibacter were positively related to obese phenotypes. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the potential of CMP as a prebiotic agent to protect obese individuals from metabolic disorders and gut dysbiosis. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.