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

Abstract 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.