Structural characteristics of Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharide and its protective mechanisms against mastitis in mice

Mastitis, a common inflammatory condition in female mammals, increases the risk of breast cancer and causes substantial economic losses. Although antibiotics effectively treat mastitis, their overuse poses a threat to public health and safety. Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharides (PEPs) have emerged as a promising alternative to reduce antibiotic abuse; however, their protective mechanisms against mastitis remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the structural features of PEP and explore its protective effects against mastitis. Structural analysis revealed that PEP (Mw = 15.9 kDa) consists of galactose (60.66 %), mannose (37.51 %), glucose (1.11 %), and fucose (0.72 %), with a backbone composed of →2,6)-α-D-Galp-(1→ and →6)-α-D-Galp-(1→ residues, branched at C-2. In a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse mastitis model, PEP substantially reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, alleviated mammary epithelial cell apoptosis, and restored blood-milk barrier integrity by modulating the nuclear factor-kappa B and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. Gut microbiota analysis showed PEP treatment increased the abundance and diversity of beneficial bacteria while reducing potentially harmful taxa. Metabolomic analysis results revealed the downregulation of metabolites such as riboflavin-5-phosphate and progesterone. Overall, PEP protects against mastitis by modulating the gut microbiota and metabolism, potentially via the gut-mammary axis, providing a theoretical basis for its clinical application.