Polysaccharide isolated from Phellinus linteus mycelia exerts anti-inflammatory effects via MAPK and PPAR signaling pathways.

In the present study, the anti-inflammatory function of Phellinus linteus polysaccharide (PLP) was investigated in animal and cell inflammation models, and the anti-inflammatory mechanism of PLP was also explored. Sixty 8-week ICR mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, and DSS group and DSS + PLP group mice received 2.0% DSS and PLP was orally administered at 500 mg/kg/day. Our data showed that PLP administration obviously improved the health status of mice and inhibited DSS-induced pathological alterations and significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine expressions in the colonic tissues. In lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation cell model, PLP supplement also significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine expressions and inhibited MAPK pathway as well as the translocations of NF-κB and AP-1. Meanwhile, PLP supplement regulated PPARα and PPARγ phosphorylation and blocked MAPK activation. Taken together, PLP exhibits anti-inflammatory function and its molecular mechanism may be involved in MAPK and PPAR signal pathways, which reduce the expressions of inflammatory cytokines.