Agrocybe aegerita polysaccharide alleviates aspirin-associated gastric mucosal injury by regulating the NF-κB and Bax/Bcl-2 signaling pathways.

Aspirin-associated gastric mucosal injury remains a significant clinical challenge, underscoring the necessity for the development of natural, nontoxic, and effective gastroprotective agents. In this study, a safe and nontoxic polysaccharide, designated as Agrocybe aegerita polysaccharide (AAP), was successfully isolated from the fruiting bodies of A. aegerita. Chemical analysis revealed that AAP was predominantly composed of glucose and galactose, contained pyranose rings, and exhibited both α- and β-glycosidic linkages. Mouse experiments demonstrated that AAP markedly attenuated gastric lesions, reduced the ulcer index, and promoted the restoration of gastric mucosa integrity in response to aspirin-associated gastric mucosal injury. Mechanistically, AAP exerted its gastroprotective effects by alleviating oxidative stress, inhibiting the NF-κB pathway activation, and regulating the Bax/Bcl-2 pathway. These findings suggested that AAP held potential as a natural therapeutic agent or functional food ingredient for prevention and treatment against aspirin-associated gastric injury.