Mushroom powder and gut bacteria in lab tests
What it found
In lab tests, digested pink oyster mushroom powder changed the mix of gut bacteria and raised levels of beneficial acids.
The authors say this points to a prebiotic effect.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Beneficial bacteria increased
In lab tests, the mushroom powder increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus/Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Ruminococcus albus/flavefaciens over 48 hours.
Harmful bacteria decreased
In lab tests, the mushroom powder reduced Clostridium histolyticum over 48 hours.
Acids and pH changed
In lab tests, the mushroom powder raised lactic acid and short-chain fatty acid levels and lowered pH.
Amino acids and compounds
Lab tests found essential amino acids, branched-chain amino acids, and other compounds that may benefit health.
Other findings
Phenolic compounds found
The mushroom powder contained phenolic compounds, with the highest amounts being epicatechin, gallic acid, and quercetin 3-glucoside.
What the authors conclude
“The results indicate the prebiotic effects of P. djamor on human intestinal microbiota.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the results show prebiotic effects of the mushroom on human gut bacteria.
- They call for more research with well-structured preclinical and randomized, double-blind clinical studies, including placebo controls, to ensure safety and efficacy in humans.
How it was done
The authors wanted to explore whether this edible mushroom has prebiotic effects, because the interaction between human gut bacteria and this mushroom is still unclear.
They digested pink oyster mushroom powder in a lab simulation of human digestion, then fermented it for 48 hours with a mix of fecal samples from four healthy adults. They compared it with a known prebiotic and a control.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a lab test using fecal samples, not a study in living people. It cannot show what happens when someone eats the mushroom.
- The lab model cannot fully copy the complex conditions inside the human colon.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no competing financial interest.
- Authors work at
- Federal University of Paraíba, Brazil; Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil; Federal Institute of Sertão Pernambucano, Brazil
The paper
- Title
- Unveiling the Potential Prebiotic Effects of Edible Mushroom Pleurotus djamor During In Vitro Colonic Fermentation
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Andrade GM, Souza EL, Zárate-Salazar JR, et al (2024). Unveiling the Potential Prebiotic Effects of Edible Mushroom Pleurotus djamor During In Vitro Colonic Fermentation. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.4c06620Free full textPubMed 39570775DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error