Effect and correlation of Cordyceps guangdongensis ethanolic extract on obesity, dyslipidemia and gut microbiota dysbiosis in high-fat diet mice

Edible-medicinal fungi have shown many beneficial health effects. Cordyceps guangdongensis is a novel ediblemedicinal fungus in China. In this study, we investigated the effects of ethanolic extract from C. guangdongensis fruiting bodies (CGE), and comprehensively dissected the effects of CGE on fat accumulation, dyslipidemia, gut microbial composition, and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Results showed that CGE markedly inhibited body weight gain, decreased fat accumulation in various tissues, and significantly improved glucose tolerance and hyperlipidemia. CGE notably restored high-fat diet induced microbial shift from Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes, and markedly increased the abundances of beneficial gut microbiota (such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Bifidobacterium animalis). Interestingly, CGE also significantly promoted butyric acid (BA) production. Pairwise correlation analysis found that A. muciniphila, B. animals and BA were negatively associated with several fat-related parameters and blood lipid indicators. Together, our results suggested that CGE represented a potential novel supplement to treat obesity and related complications.