Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides target the gut-brain axis: Unveiling a novel mechanism for ameliorating aging-induced cognitive impairment and oxidative stress

Dec 9, 2025International journal of biological macromolecules

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides may improve age-related memory loss and oxidative stress by affecting the gut-brain connection

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Abstract

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) reduce the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and significantly increase Lactobacillus abundance.

The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication pathway that may regulate cognitive functions.
GLP may help control gut microbiota homeostasis and increase short-chain fatty acid levels.
GLP could suppress oxidative stress and neuroinflammation by moderating microglial overactivation.
Enhanced expression of synapse-associated proteins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is observed with GLP treatment.
The review proposes that GLP may mitigate aging-induced inflammation and improve cognitive function.

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With the rapid progression of global population aging, the incidence of cognitive dysfunction-related disorders is steadily increasing. In recent years, growing attention has been directed toward the interaction between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system (CNS). The gut-brain axis (GBA), as a bidirectional communication pathway, plays an increasingly recognized role in regulating cognitive functions. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP), a traditional medicinal and edible substance, can regulate gut microbiota homeostasis and short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) levels through the GBA. GLP reduces the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, significantly increases the abundance of Lactobacillus, and further suppresses oxidative stress and inflammatory responses by controlling microglial overactivation and neuroinflammation, thereby enhancing the expression of synapse-associated proteins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Consequently, GLP shows potential for improving cognitive dysfunction. This review systematically summarizes the bioactivities of GLP, explores the neurodegenerative mechanisms of aging, and proposes the possibility that GLP mitigates aging-induced inflammation and improves cognitive function via modulation of the gut microbiota.

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Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides target the gut-brain axis: Unveiling a novel mechanism for ameliorating aging-induced cognitive impairment and oxidative stress

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