Protective effect of polysaccharides from Ganoderma atrum against high-fat diet-induced liver injury in mice

A high-fat diet (HFD) causes a series of health problems. Polysaccharides have been shown to alleviate liver damage caused by HFD. This study utilized RNA sequencing analysis and metabolomics to investigate the protective effects of polysaccharides from Ganoderma atrum (PSG) on the liver of HFD mice. Mice fed with an HFD for 10 weeks showed severe liver damage. Administration of PSG improved blood glucose homeostasis, corrected lipid abnormalities, and reduced liver fat accumulation and alanine aminotransferase and glutamine aminotransferase contents. Further experiments revealed changes in the gene expression levels in the liver, showing enrichment of the NF-κB signaling pathway, and PSG downregulated pro-inflammatory genes (Tnfa, Il1b, and Ccl2). PSG intervention also altered serum metabolite levels and host metabolism by increasing L-aspartic acid levels and enriching the alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolic pathways. These findings provide new insights into the protective effects of dietary fiber against liver damage induced by HFD.