Preparation, characterization and anti-fatigue activity of polysaccharides from Pleurotus eryngii

The Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharides (PEP1) were isolated and purified. The structure of PEP1 was characterized, and its anti-fatigue activity was studied. PEP1 had an average molecular weight of 145.0 kDa and consisted of six monosaccharides. The highest scavenging activities of PEP1 against ·DPPH, ·OH, and ·ABTS⁺ free radicals were 71.37%, 64.73%, and 83.53%. PEP1 significantly improved exhaustive swimming time, muscle and liver glycogen levels, and the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase. Meanwhile, it effectively reduced blood urea nitrogen, blood lactic acid, and malondialdehyde levels, as well as the lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase activities. In addition, PEP1 significantly increased the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the anti-fatigue activity of PEP1 was associated with its multifaceted regulatory effects, including the enhancement of glycogen storage, reduction in the accumulation of harmful metabolites, alleviation of oxidative damage, and promotion of beneficial intestinal metabolites.