Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular disease triggered by lipid accumulation. Auricularia heimuer is rich in various bioactive compounds that have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hypolipidemic properties. The specific beneficial effects of A. heimuer on atherosclerosis and its underlying mechanisms require further investigation. Methods: In this study, ApoE^−/− mice were utilized as models of atherosclerosis induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) to investigate the effects of A. heimuer. Analyses of gut microbiota and serum metabolomics were conducted to elucidate the potential mechanism. Results: In HFD-fed ApoE^−/− mice, A. heimuer significantly inhibited the increase in body weight, regulated lipid levels, and alleviated aortic lesions. A. heimuer also modulated the abundance of intestinal flora such as Akkermansia and Ruminococcus and altered the levels of serum metabolites, including 12(S)-hydroxy-5Z,8Z,10E,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid (12(S)-HETE) and N-acetyl galactosamine 4-sulfate. Furthermore, A. heimuer alleviated oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, thereby mitigating atherosclerosis via the Nrf2/NF-κB signaling pathway. Conclusions: These findings suggest that A. heimuer may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis.

Species of Sanghuangporus produce abundant bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, polysaccharides, and triterpenoids, among which flavonoids exhibit prominent antioxidant activity and great development potential. Taking the peak extracellular flavonoid (EF) concentration in fermentation broth as the index, we optimized the liquid fermentation media and conditions for three Sanghuangporus strains (wild S. vaninii Z-0090, cultivar S. vaninii Z-0119, and cultivar S. baumii Z-0118) via single-factor experiments and the Box–Behnken response surface methodology. We further evaluated the antioxidant activity of the fermentation broth and analyzed its correlation with EF concentration using Pearson correlation analysis. After optimization, the EF concentrations of strains Z-0090, Z-0119 and Z-0118 were increased by 22.82%, 13.47% and 16.66%, respectively, compared with the control group. Antioxidant assays showed that strain Z-0090 had the highest hydroxyl radical scavenging rate (88.63%), strain Z-0119 presented balanced performance across all antioxidant indicators, and strain Z-0118 exhibited the strongest ABTS radical scavenging capacity (184.96 μg Trolox equivalents/mL), which was highly correlated with its EF concentration. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of Sanghuangporus EFs in food, medicine, and industrial flavonoid production.

Background: Bondarzewia dickinsii (BD) is a newly discovered edible mushroom with rich nutritional components. This study presents a thorough analysis of the components of BD, examining its inhibitory effects and the underlying mechanisms by which BD influences colitis-associated cancer (CAC). Methods: AOM/DSS-induced CAC mice (male C57BL/6) were used, and a histopathological analysis, intestinal microbiota assessment, and metabolomics profiling were carried out, as well as an evaluation of relevant proteins and factors, to investigate the CAC-inhibitory effects of BD. Results: BD is rich in nutritional components, including a total sugar content of 37.29% and total protein content of 24.9%. BD significantly diminished colon inflammation, as well as the size and quantity of tumors. In addition, BD modified the diversity of intestinal microbiota and changed the levels of 19 serum metabolites, including arachidonic acid. BD significantly reduced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in colon tissue. Furthermore, it was found to inhibit the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/COX-2 signaling pathway. Conclusions: In general, BD inhibited the onset and progression of CAC by modulating the composition of intestinal microbiota and metabolite levels, suppressing the PI3K/AKT/COX-2 pathway, and decreasing PGE2 expression. This study provides a significant reference for the development of BD as a dietary supplement and pharmaceutical agent in the treatment of CAC.

Background: Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) represents a major contributor to liver fibrosis globally, and current therapeutic options remain inadequate. The TGF-β/Smad4 cascade is critically involved in alcohol-evoked activation of hepatic stellate cells and subsequent extracellular matrix accumulation. Although Shenze Shugan capsule (SZSG) has been clinically used for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, its efficacy and mechanisms in ALD are unclear. This study aimed to explore how SZSG exerts protective effects against alcohol-triggered liver injury and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Both acute and chronic ALD mouse models were established to assess liver injury, fibrosis, inflammation, gut microbiota composition, and serum metabolomic profiles. Results: SZSG treatment markedly attenuated hepatic steatosis, fibrosis, and inflammation, as evidenced by reductions in lipid accumulation, collagen deposition, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Concurrently, it reshaped the gut microbiota and restored metabolites dysregulated by alcohol exposure. These beneficial effects appear to involve modulation of the TGF-β/Smad4 signaling pathway and its downstream effectors, α-SMA and Collagen I. Conclusion: Collectively, our findings suggest that SZSG combats ALD by simultaneously modulating the TGF-β/Smad4 signaling axis and preserving gut-liver homeostasis, thereby representing a promising multi-target therapeutic candidate.