Auricularia auricula polysaccharide attenuates Rhizoma Dioscorea bulbifera decoction-induced hepatotoxicity by regulating the TNF-α/PI3K/AKT pathway and gut microbiota.

Rhizoma Dioscoreae bulbiferae (RDB), as a core component of traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used in treating various diseases, but long-term or high-dose administration can lead to severe hepatotoxicity. This study demonstrated that Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AAP), a pyranose-type polysaccharide linked by both α- and β-glycosidic bonds, exhibited considerable therapeutic potential against RDB decoction (RDBD)-induced hepatotoxicity. This protective effect was achieved by multiple mechanisms, including enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities, suppression of inflammatory responses, modulation of TNF-α/PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, as well as regulation of microbial community composition and enhancement of co-occurrence network complexity. These findings provided a theoretical basis for promoting the applications of AAP as supplements in the development of therapeutic agents for functional foods targeting TCM-induced liver damage and associated complications.