Therapeutic Properties of Edible Mushrooms and Herbal Teas in Gut Microbiota Modulation

Abstract

Edible mushrooms are functional foods and valuable but less exploited sources of biologically active compounds. Herbal teas are a range of products widely used due to the therapeutic properties that have been demonstrated by traditional medicine and a supplement in conventional therapies. Their interaction with the human microbiota is an aspect that must be researched, the therapeutic properties depending on the interaction with the microbiota and the consequent fermentative activity. Modulation processes result from the activity of, for example, phenolic acids, which are a major component and which have already demonstrated activity in combating oxidative stress. The aim of this mini-review is to highlight the essential aspects of modulating the microbiota using edible mushrooms and herbal teas. Although the phenolic pattern is different for edible mushrooms and herbal teas, certain non-phenolic compounds (polysaccharides and/or caffeine) are important in alleviating chronic diseases. These specific functional compounds have modulatory properties against oxidative stress, demonstrating health-beneficial effects in vitro and/or In vivo. Moreover, recent advances in improving human health via gut microbiota are presented. Plant-derived miRNAs from mushrooms and herbal teas were highlighted as a potential strategy for new therapeutic effects.

KI Essence extract (a spleen-tonifying formula) promotes neurite outgrowth, alleviates oxidative stress and hypomyelination, and modulates microbiome in maternal immune activation offspring

“…Mushrooms contain bioactive ingredients that can modulate gut microbiota ( Ma et al, 2021 ; Vamanu et al, 2021 ). LPS-induced MIA offspring exhibit a microbiome profile similar to that of humans with ASD ( Lee et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Microbial dysbiosis is correlated with behavioral abnormalities and neuropathology ( Vuong and Hsiao, 2017 ). Mushrooms are functional foods containing various biologically active compounds that can mitigate microbial dysbiosis ( Cheung et al, 2020 ; Vamanu et al, 2021 ). Gut microbiota transplantation (primarily with a mixture of bifidobacteria , streptococci, and lactobacilli) is a therapeutic method used to alter microbiome profiles and improve neurobehavioral symptoms ( Kang et al, 2017 ; Fattorusso et al, 2019 ; Chen et al, 2020 ; Abuaish et al, 2021 ).…”

“…In traditional Chinese medicine, neurological disorder treatment mainly involves tonifying the spleen and invigorating the brain ( Greenwood, 2017 ). Mushrooms contain bioactive ingredients that modulate gut microbiota and increase spleen Qi ( Greenwood, 2017 ; Ma et al, 2021 ; Vamanu et al, 2021 ). KI Essence is a commercial product that contains mushrooms and traditional Chinese herbal extracts; its ingredients have spleen-tonifying effects and can modulate the gut microbiome ( Xu et al, 2015 ; Xu et al, 2021 ; Zou et al, 2021 ).…”

Ethanolic extract of root from Arctium lappa L ameliorates obesity and hepatic steatosis in rats by regulating the AMPK / ACC / CPT ‐1 pathway

“…According to the analysis of Arctium lappa L root components, it can be known that Arctium lappa L contains bioactive polysaccharides, polyphenols, and other substances. In fact, studies have found that plant polysaccharides and plant polyphenols have a certain effect on ameliorating glucose and lipid metabolism disorders, especially having anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and ameliorating effects on obesity (Luo, Mu, & Sun, 2021;Vamanu, Dinu, Pelinescu, & Gatea, 2021). In particular, plant polysaccharides and plant polyphe- It is important that the hepatic lipid metabolism will eventually affect the process of body fat accumulation.…”

Gut Microbiota and Metabolism in Different Stages of Life and Health

“…Indeed, kiwifruit has been shown to potentiate sleep via pathways implication serotonin and GABA [41,42]. On a similar theme, another article reviews edible mushrooms as microbiome-modulating functional foods [43]. Mushrooms are rich sources of β-glucan polysaccharides that have a prebiotic effect.…”