Gut Microbiota Modulation and Functional Effects of Edible and Medicinal Fungi: Sanghuangporus vaninii as a Case Study

ABSTRACT Edible and medicinal fungi exert diverse biological effects, including immunomodulatory, antitumour, and anti‐inflammatory activities, as well as the amelioration of metabolic disorders. The relationship between these effects and the gut microbiota is attracting increasing attention. Many fungal polysaccharides are not fully digested in the upper gastrointestinal tract. After reaching the colon, they can be utilised by gut microorganisms, thereby altering community composition and microbial metabolite production and potentially affecting host metabolites, protein expression, and signalling pathways. Using Sanghuangporus vaninii as a case study, this perspective outlines the continuum from fungal constituents and microbial transformation to host responses. Current evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may be an important contributor to multiple functions of S. vaninii ; however, changes in the microbiota alone do not establish causality. Future studies should define reproducibly responsive microbial taxa, key metabolites, and their synergistic relationships with S. vaninii constituents.