Whole food-based strategies to prevent disease and promote human health are promising and potentially effective due to potential synergistic interactions among different bioactive components within the whole foods. This study aimed to improve colon health by using Pleurotus eryngii (P. eryngii, king oyster mushroom), a widely cultivated edible mushroom, to inhibit inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our results showed that dietary administration of freeze-dried whole P. eryngii (WPE, 1 and 3% w/w in the mouse diet, oral doses reasonably achievable in humans) alleviated colonic inflammation in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated colitis mice. Specifically, WPE decreased disease activity index, prevented colon shortening, alleviated the colonic tissue damages. The abundance of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, and IFN-γ) was markedly ameliorated by WPE treatment in the colonic mucosa of DSS-treated mice. Sequencing the 16S rRNA genes of gut microbiota demonstrated that WPE in the diet significantly mitigated the dysbiosis of gut microbiota induced by DSS treatment, a case in which it increased the abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria and attenuated the abundance of potentially harmful bacteria. Furthermore, the levels of short-chain fatty acids in the cecum of colitis mice were significantly increased by WPE. Overall, our results for the first time demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and microbiota-modulating effects of WPE and illuminated its potential as a functional food to prevent inflammation-related disorders and promote colonic health in humans.

Dietary intake of king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice

2019 Fall National Meeting

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