biostudies-literatureUnknown9Tian B<i>Hericium erinaceus</i> polysaccharides (HEPs) have attracted widespread attention in regulating gut microbiota (GM). To investigate digestibility and fermentation of HEPs and their effects on GM composition, three polysaccharide fractions, namely, HEP-30, HEP-50, and HEP-70, were fractionally precipitated with 30%, 50%, and 70% ethanol concentrations (v/v) from hot water-soluble extracts of <i>Hericium erinaceus</i>, respectively. Three kinds of prepared HEPs were structurally characterized and simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and their effects on human fecal microbiota fermentations of male and female and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production <i>in vitro</i> were clarified. Under digestive conditions simulating saliva, stomach, and small intestine, HEPs were not significantly iFrontiers in nutrition858585https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9008368biostudies-literatureDigestive Characteristics of <i>Hericium erinaceus</i> Polysaccharides and Their Positive Effects on Fecal Microbiota of Male and Female Volunteers During <i>in vitro</i> Fermentation.PMC9008368Zou XPi XSun PYang KMao RTian BXu TGeng YZeng XHuang LWu WfalseDigestive Characteristics of <i>Hericium erinaceus</i> Polysaccharides and Their Positive Effects on Fecal Microbiota of Male and Female Volunteers During <i>in vitro</i> Fermentation.<i>Hericium erinaceus</i> polysaccharides (HEPs) have attracted widespread attention in regulating gut microbiota (GM). To investigate digestibility and fermentation of HEPs and their effects on GM composition, three polysaccharide fractions, namely, HEP-30, HEP-50, and HEP-70, were fractionally precipitated with 30%, 50%, and 70% ethanol concentrations (v/v) from hot water-soluble extracts of <i>Hericium erinaceus</i>, respectively. Three kinds of prepared HEPs were structurally characterized and simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and their effects on human fecal microbiota fermentations of male and female and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production <i>in vitro</i> were clarified. Under digestive conditions simulating saliva, stomach, and small intestine, HEPs were not significantly i2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222026-05-29T01:07:56.269Z2025-02-19T00:38:24.533ZS-EPMC90083683543378210.3389/fnut.2022.858585