Lilium Polysaccharides Attenuate Cigarette Smoke–Induced Lung Injury Through Gut Microbiota Modulation and Butyrate Production

Lilium polysaccharides (LPs) from Lilium brownii var. viridulum possess promising bioactivities and potential as functional food ingredients; however, their role in modulating cigarette smoke (CS)–induced pulmonary injury via the gut microbiota remains unclear. This study systematically investigated the digestion, gut microbial fermentation, and modulatory effects of a homogeneous LP (12 kDa) in a CS‐induced pulmonary injury model. LP resisted upper gastrointestinal digestion and reached the colon intact. It improved lung function, attenuated pulmonary inflammation and tissue damage, and partially restored tight junction protein expression. LP treatment was associated with an increased abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila ( AKK ) and elevated butyrate production, and these changes were correlated with lung‐protective effects. In vitro assays showed that LP maintained its ability to promote AKK growth and SCFA production under heat and acidic pH conditions. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential of LP as a functional prebiotic for attenuating CS‐associated pulmonary and intestinal dyshomeostasis in a prebiotic‐like manner via gut–lung axis modulation.