Auricularia auricula‐judae Peptides Modulate Lipid Metabolic Disturbances and Gut Microbiota Composition in High‐Fat‐Diet‐Fed Mice

ABSTRACT

High‐calorie diets and sedentary lifestyles have led to a rising global prevalence of obesity, which constitutes a serious publichealth challenge. In this study, we investigated the antiobesity effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of Auricularia auricula‐judae peptides (AAP) in high‐fat‐diet‐induced obese mice. AAP intervention markedly restrained bodyweight gain. At the highest dose, the final body weight of AAP‐treated mice was approximately 20% lower than that of the untreated high‐fat‐diet group. AAP reduced plasma and hepatic triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels with a dose‐dependent tendency and restored the histological morphology of liver and epididymal white adipose tissue. AAP mediated reshaped gut microbiota composition, improved intestinal homeostasis, and mitigated hepatic chronic inflammation. Moreover AAP significantly elevated fecal total bile acid (TBA) content and up‐regulated the hepatic mRNA expression of lipolysis‐related genes Cpt1 , Ppar‐α , Atgl and cholesterol catabolic gene Cyp7a1 thereby restoring hepatic lipid metabolic homeostasis. Collectively these findings demonstrate that AAP exerts promising antiobesity activity in obese mice and has great potential for development as functional food ingredients.