Researchers tested two common edible mushrooms—button mushrooms and oyster mushrooms—to see if they could help your gut bacteria. They found that special parts of these mushrooms called polysaccharides can feed the good bacteria in your stomach while fighting off harmful bacteria. The mushroom extracts also worked like antioxidants, which means they help protect your cells from damage. These findings suggest that eating these mushrooms might be a natural way to support digestive health, though more research in humans is needed before we can make strong recommendations.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether extracts from button mushrooms and oyster mushrooms could help good gut bacteria grow while stopping bad bacteria, and whether these mushroom parts could protect cells from damage.
  • Who participated: This was a laboratory study using bacterial cultures and mushroom samples, not human volunteers. Researchers tested four types of beneficial bacteria commonly found in fermented foods.
  • Key finding: Polysaccharides (a type of carbohydrate) from button mushrooms showed the strongest ability to protect cells from damage (93.73% effectiveness), and both mushroom types helped good bacteria called L. paracasei grow significantly better.
  • What it means for you: These results suggest mushrooms might support gut health naturally, but this is early-stage research done in test tubes and petri dishes. More studies in humans are needed before we can confidently say eating these mushrooms will improve your digestion or health.

The Research Details

Scientists conducted laboratory experiments to test mushroom extracts. They first isolated four types of beneficial bacteria from food samples. Then they created extracts from button mushrooms and oyster mushrooms using different methods—some using ethanol (a type of alcohol) and some extracting just the polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates). They tested these extracts in petri dishes to see how well they could feed good bacteria, fight bad bacteria, and protect cells from damage using standard scientific methods.

The researchers measured how much carbohydrate was in each extract, tested how well the extracts could neutralize harmful molecules called free radicals, and observed how the mushroom extracts affected bacterial growth. They also tested whether bacteria fed with mushroom extracts could produce substances that fight harmful pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause food poisoning.

This type of study is important because it helps scientists identify which foods might have health benefits before testing them in humans. It’s like a screening process to find the most promising candidates for further research.

Laboratory studies like this help scientists understand how foods work at a basic level before investing time and money in human studies. By testing mushroom extracts in controlled conditions, researchers can identify which compounds are responsible for health benefits and how they work. This knowledge helps guide future research and could eventually lead to new ways to support gut health through food or supplements.

This study was published in Scientific Reports, a reputable peer-reviewed journal, which means other scientists reviewed the work before publication. However, this is laboratory research using bacteria in dishes, not human studies. The results are promising but preliminary. The study doesn’t specify exactly how many samples were tested, which would be helpful information. Because this is test-tube research, we can’t yet be sure these benefits would happen in real human bodies with all their complexity.

What the Results Show

When researchers tested oyster mushroom extracts made with ethanol, they found the highest amounts of carbohydrates and simple sugars compared to other extracts tested. Button mushroom polysaccharides showed the strongest ability to neutralize harmful free radicals in cells—achieving 93.73% effectiveness, which is very strong. This means button mushroom extracts might help protect your cells from oxidative stress, a type of damage linked to aging and disease.

Both button and oyster mushroom polysaccharides significantly boosted the growth of a beneficial bacteria called L. paracasei. This is important because L. paracasei is one of the good bacteria that naturally lives in your gut and helps with digestion. When researchers grew L. acidophilus bacteria (another beneficial type) with button mushroom extracts, the bacteria produced substances that created a 36.33 mm zone of inhibition against L. monocytogenes, a harmful bacteria. In simple terms, this means the good bacteria, when fed by mushroom extracts, became better at fighting off dangerous pathogens.

The polysaccharides from both mushroom types worked better than the crude extracts (whole mushroom material), suggesting that the specific carbohydrate compounds in mushrooms are the key beneficial components. This finding is important because it tells scientists which parts of mushrooms to focus on for potential health products.

The study found that different extraction methods produced different results. Ethanol extraction pulled out more carbohydrates from oyster mushrooms, while polysaccharide extraction concentrated the beneficial compounds. This suggests that how you prepare mushrooms might affect their health benefits. The research also showed that button mushrooms and oyster mushrooms had slightly different strengths—button mushrooms were better at fighting free radicals, while oyster mushrooms had slightly higher carbohydrate content. This means different mushroom types might offer complementary benefits.

This research builds on existing knowledge that mushrooms contain beneficial compounds. Previous studies have shown that mushrooms have antioxidant properties and can support gut health, but this study specifically identified which compounds (polysaccharides) are most responsible and tested them against specific beneficial bacteria. The findings align with the growing scientific interest in using food sources to support the microbiome—the community of bacteria living in your gut. This approach, called bacteriotherapy, is becoming more popular as an alternative to antibiotics for maintaining digestive health.

This study was conducted entirely in laboratory conditions using bacteria in petri dishes and test tubes. Real human guts are much more complex, with hundreds of different bacteria species interacting in ways that can’t be fully replicated in a lab. The study doesn’t tell us how much mushroom you’d need to eat to get these benefits, or whether cooking mushrooms would preserve these beneficial compounds. Additionally, the study doesn’t specify the exact number of samples tested or provide complete details about all experimental conditions. We don’t know if these benefits would work the same way in people with different diets, ages, or health conditions. Finally, this research doesn’t prove that eating these mushrooms will improve human health—that would require clinical trials with actual people.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, we can say it’s reasonable to include button mushrooms and oyster mushrooms as part of a healthy diet, as they appear to contain beneficial compounds. However, we cannot yet recommend them as a treatment for any specific health condition. The evidence is promising but preliminary—think of it as a green light for further research, not a proven health intervention. If you’re interested in supporting gut health, eating a variety of mushrooms as part of a balanced diet rich in fiber and whole foods is a safe, evidence-supported approach.

This research is interesting for anyone concerned about digestive health, gut bacteria balance, or natural ways to support wellness. It may be particularly relevant for people interested in functional foods—foods that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. However, people with mushroom allergies should avoid these mushrooms. If you have a serious digestive condition or are taking antibiotics, talk to your doctor before making major dietary changes. This research is not yet strong enough to recommend mushroom extracts as a replacement for medical treatment of any condition.

If these benefits were to occur in humans, you wouldn’t see changes overnight. Gut bacteria changes typically take weeks to months to develop. You’d likely need to eat these mushrooms regularly as part of your normal diet. Don’t expect dramatic changes—supporting gut health is a gradual process. If you do try adding more mushrooms to your diet, give it at least 4-8 weeks before assessing whether you notice any digestive improvements.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly mushroom consumption (button and oyster mushrooms specifically) in servings, aiming for 2-3 servings per week. Also track digestive wellness indicators like energy levels, digestion comfort, and bowel regularity using a simple 1-10 scale.
  • Add button or oyster mushrooms to at least 2-3 meals per week. Try sautéing them, adding them to soups, or including them in stir-fries. Keep a food log noting which mushroom type and preparation method you used, along with any digestive changes you notice.
  • Create a 12-week tracking plan that monitors mushroom intake frequency and digestive wellness markers. Use the app to set reminders for mushroom-containing meals and weekly check-ins on how you’re feeling. Compare your baseline digestive wellness (week 1) with weeks 4, 8, and 12 to identify any patterns.

This research is laboratory-based and has not been tested in humans. The findings are preliminary and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Mushroom extracts are not approved by the FDA as medical treatments. If you have a mushroom allergy, digestive disorder, or are taking medications, consult your healthcare provider before significantly changing your mushroom consumption. This article is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always talk to a doctor before making major dietary changes, especially if you have existing health conditions.