Abstract
Macrocybe crassa (or Tricholoma crassum) is a nutrient-dense wild edible mushroom native to Thailand. The mushroom extract and its constituents have remarkable biological characteristics, but the influence of the powder on the human gut microbiota is unknown. This study investigated the bioactive composition and modulatory properties of M. crassa powder on gut microbial composition and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) production. The fermentation of M. crassa powder by human intestinal microbiota released SCFA, mainly acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid. M. crassa powder significantly modulated the microbiota by increasing the relative abundances of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus/Enterococcus group, Atopobium, Bacteroidaceae/Prevotellaceae, and C. coccoides. F. prausnitzii, Roseburia genus, C. histolyticum and C. cluster IX, similar to that of Fructooligosaccharides (FOS). With M. crassa powder, high content of propionic acid was observed, as well as a number of Bacteroidaceae/Prevotellaceae and C. cluster IX. On the other hand, FOS caused a high acetic acid concentration and a population of Bifidobacterium spp., Atopobium cluster, Bacteroidaceae/Prevotellaceae, and C. coccoides. Therefore, this work will significantly contribute to filling the knowledge gap and revealing the significance of M. crassa in the pharmaceutical industry.