Ganoderma lucidum reduces obesity in mice by modulating the composition of the gut microbiota
Journal
Nature Communications
Journal Volume
6
Pages
7489
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Chang C.-J.
Lin C.-S.
Lu C.-C.
Martel J.
Ko Y.-F.
Ojcius D.M.
Tseng S.-F.
Wu T.-R.
Chen Y.-Y.M.
Young J.D.
Abstract
Obesity is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation and intestinal dysbiosis. Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine with putative anti-diabetic effects. Here, we show that a water extract of Ganoderma lucidum mycelium (WEGL) reduces body weight, inflammation and insulin resistance in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Our data indicate that WEGL not only reverses HFD-induced gut dysbiosis - as indicated by the decreased Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratios and endotoxin-bearing Proteobacteria levels - but also maintains intestinal barrier integrity and reduces metabolic endotoxemia. The anti-obesity and microbiota-modulating effects are transmissible via horizontal faeces transfer from WEGL-treated mice to HFD-fed mice. We further show that high molecular weight polysaccharides (>300 kDa) isolated from the WEGL extract produce similar anti-obesity and microbiota-modulating effects. Our results indicate that G. lucidum and its high molecular weight polysaccharides may be used as prebiotic agents to prevent gut dysbiosis and obesity-related metabolic disorders in obese individuals.
SDGs
Type
journal article