Polysaccharides from two medicinal mushrooms Ganoderma lucidum and Poria cocos reveal prebiotic effects in mice

Background:  Ganoderma lucidum and Poria cocos are two medicinal mushrooms that have been traditionally used for health-promoting properties. It is hypothesized that these mushrooms may act as prebiotics by modulating gut microbiota (GM) composition.  In this study, the fruiting body and mycelium polysaccharides were extracted and administered daily (750 mg/kg) to 6 week-old mice (6 mice/group) for 15 days. Mice were monitored daily for weight, water and diet consumptions. Fecal samples were collected and processed for total DNA extraction.  GM was evaluated using ERIC- PCR and 16S amplicon sequencing. A total of 2.59 million high quality reads (>200 bp) were processed for taxonomic identification. Around 303 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified at the species level. Significant (p < 0.01) compositional changes in GM was substantial in mice treated with G. lucidum fruiting bodies.  Comparatively, polysaccharides-treated mice showed higher abundance of phylum Firmicutes and beneficial bacteria. Interestingly, the fruiting body polysaccharides profoundly enriched beneficial bacteria possessing anti-colitis (e.g. Alistipes finegoldii ), anti-obesity (e.g. Akkermansia muciniphila ), and short-chain fatty acid production (e.g. Ruminococcus , Lachnoclostridium ). Moreover, G. lucidum fruiting bodies greatly promoted the growth of lactic acid-producing bacterial species from genera Lactobacillus , Lactococcus , and Bifidobacterium . We conclude that polysaccharides from the fruiting bodies of G. lucidum and P. cocos could function as prebiotics and improve the health of the gut and the host. [This study was supported by Macau Science and Technology Development Fund 015/2014/A1 and 103/2016/A3] Keywords:  Ganoderma lucidum ,  Poria cocos , polysaccharides, gut microbiota, 16S amplicon sequencing How to cite this abstract:  Khan I., Huang G., Li X., Leong W., Xia W., Hsiao W.L.; FFC’s 22 nd International Conference; Boston, MA, USA; Organized by  FFC  and BIDMC/ Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital; Volume 1; Supplement 1: 55-56