The Crude Polysaccharide Derived from Agaricus subrufescens Alleviates Alcoholic Liver Injury

Alcoholic liver injury (ALI) represents a global public health crisis with limited therapeutic options. Polysaccharides from edible mushrooms have emerged as promising candidates for liver protection due to their multifaceted biological activities and low toxicity. A mouse model of ALI was established to investigate the protective effect of Agaricus subrufescens polysaccharide on liver injury. The polysaccharide exhibited a non-triple-helix structural, characterized by a rough surface morphology, crack-like features, and a wavy strip structure. The body growth, liver index, serum and liver biochemical parameters, hepatic histopathological characteristics, and hepatic mRNA levels were investigated. The results demonstrated that A. subrufescens polysaccharide significantly alleviated liver injury, decreased serum levels of ALT by 36.22% and AST by 31.65%, lowered hepatic MDA content by 33.19%, and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, GSH-P_X, and Cat by 12.04%, 9.76% and 18.45%, respectively. Meanwhile, the polysaccharide also regulated the mRNA expression of key genes involved in fatty acid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses. These findings provide theoretical evidence for the efficacy of A. subrufescens polysaccharide against alcohol-induced liver injury.