{
  "id": 13009594,
  "title": "Fu Ling (Wolfiporia cocos) Fungal β-Glucan in Combination with Bacillus coagulans Improve Colitis-Related Outcomes and Cecal Fermentation in DSS-Treated Mice",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/fu-ling-wolfiporia-cocos-fungal-glucan-in-combination-with-bacillus",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-08T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.07.757334v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Inflammatory bowel disease remains a significant challenge in modern gastroenterology, characterized by high relapse rates. Researchers sought to explore the potential benefits of medicinal fungal sclerotium Fu Ling, its {beta}-1,3-1,6-Glucan, Bacillus coagulans, and the combinations thereof in treating dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in male BALB/c mice. The study found that the combination of {beta}-glucan and B. coagulans significantly improved various outcomes, including body weight, disease activity index, colon length, architecture, mucus secretion, and cecal fermentation compared to single ingredient treatments. Consistently, this combination led to increased production of total short-chain fatty acids, particularly acetate, better gut tight-junction organization, and reduced accumulation of myeloperoxidase. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing revealed that the combination also reshaped the gut microbiota, particularly enriching Anaeromassilibacillus sp., which was associated with improved clinical features. These findings suggest that the combination of fungal-derived {beta}-glucan and probiotic Bacillus coagulans could serve as functional food ingredients to mitigate intestinal inflammation and support barrier repair.",
  "summary": "Inflammatory bowel disease challenges modern gastroenterology due to high relapse rates. This study evaluated the effects of medicinal fungal sclerotium Fu Ling (Wolfiporia cocos), its derived {beta}-1,3-1,6-Glucan, Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086, and their combinations in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in male BALB/c mice. The {beta}-glucan-B. coagulans combination significantly…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}