Pharmacological Actions of Cordyceps militaris

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1		Abdul Rehman Phull	+ 1755 word(s)	1755	2022-02-22 07:47:54	\|
2	format correct	Nora Tang	Meta information modification	1755	2022-03-23 04:39:21	\|

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/microorganisms10020405

The medicinal mushroom C. militaris has been widely consumed in China for medication purpose since ancient times (3000 years). It is used for therapeutic treatment of lung and kidney malfunction, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, respiratory disorders, fatigue, treatment of night sweating, fertility issues, cardiac arrhythmias, and other heart diseases. On a broader scale, C. militaris has an array of pharmacological properties, including as inflammation inhibition, and antioxidant, antitumor, antimetastatic, immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, and steroidogenic activities.

Cordyceps militaris inflammation polysaccharides pharmacokinetics

1. Immune Boosting Activity

Several reports have suggested the immune regulation activities of extracts of this medicinal mushroom^[1]. The oral administration of aqueous extracts from the C. militaris fruiting body at a concentration of 20 mg/kg resulted in induced interferon (IFN) secretion by macrophages via IL-18 ^[2]. Both fresh and dried C. militaris extracts have been observed to have equivalent immunomodulatory effects in clophosphamide (cy)-activated immunosuppressed experimental animals. Quantitative investigation of phytochemicals revealed that levels of cordycepin and adenosine in fresh and dried C. militaris were similar, whereas fresh extracts contained more polysaccharides, total polyphenol, and total flavonoids compared to dried ones. Both types of extracts reversed the inhibition of the thymus and spleen index in a dose-dependent manner in a diseased mice model. Additionally, these extracts were able to increase the levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion levels in test animals ^[3]. An ethyl alcohol extract of C. militaris administered to healthy Korean male volunteers enhanced cell-mediated immunity at a dose of 1.5 g/day via an oral route. Researchers observed no side effects after a treatment duration of 4 weeks along, with significant enhancement in the levels of IL-2 and the IFN-γ compared to the placebo group. Further, due to enhanced T cell proliferation and improved natural killer cell activity, this fungus was promoted as a safe immunomodulator to boost cell-mediated immunity ^[4]. In another study, C. militaris fruiting body extracts displayed immune modulation potential and antioxidative activity in healthy Kunming mice. Oral administration of different extracts concentrations i.e., 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg on a daily basis caused a significant increase in thymic and splenic indices. Total white blood cell count, as well as monocytes and lymphocytes, were enhanced, neutrophils were decreased, but eosinophils and basophils did not undergo any changes. Augmented IL and TNF-α levels were reported in the spleen and increased total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, and SOD were observed in different organs such as the heart, kidney, and liver. These results suggest an immune boosting response in heathy organisms ^[5] and indicate the positive impact of C. militaris as an immunomodulatory agent.

2. Antiviral Potential

C. militaris extract has been used to determine its protective effects in influenza A/NWS/33 (H1N1) virus-infected mouse. The virus preventive effects of C. militaris extracts were investigated by administering different doses at 30, 100, or 300 mg/kg per day for seven days to H1N1-infected animals. The results inferred that the protective effect of the extracts could be attributed to suppressed TNF-α level along with increased IL-12, natural killer (NK) cells in experimental mice models ^[6]. Viral hepatitis occurs commonly worldwide, and when untreated causes hepatocellular carcinomas and cirrhosis. C. militaris showed moderate anti-HCV potential in conjunction with standard antivirals (IFN-α or ribavirin) in a cell-based HCV RNA replication assay system used to investigate antiviral activity ^[7].

3. Anticoagulant Activity

Fibrin is formed by fibrinogen by the activity of thrombin. The accumulation of fibrin in blood vessels can lead to clot formation resulting in thrombosis and cardiovascular diseases. A number of reports have confirmed the presence of fibrinolytic enzymes in C. militaris with anti-coagulant or thrombolytic activities. Cui et al., successfully purified a novel fibrinolytic enzyme from culture broth of the species and named it C. militaris fibrinolytic enzyme (CMase) ^[8]. Similarly, Liu et al. purified a fibrinoyltic enzyme, which had the ability to hydrolyze fibrin or fibrinogen by cleaving the α-chains more efficiently than β- and γ-chains, revealing its plasmin like nature. It was able to degrade thrombin, indicating its benefits as an anticoagulant and antithrombotic protein ^[9]. The same authors reported the biochemical characterization of another fibrinolytic protease from C. militaris ^[10]. Hence, C. militaris can be suggested as good source of novel thrombolytic agents, although work related to the anticoagulant activities of crude extracts is scarce.

4. Anticancer Activity

C. militaris is one of the important medicinal species and well documented for its anticancer effects. C. militaris ethanolic extract was orally administered to a xenograft in mice bearing murine T cell lymphoma (RMA) cell-derived cancers, which resulted in significant anticancer activity by the suppressing the size and mass of cancer. Furthermore, reduced proliferation of RMA cells and C6 glioma cells, downregulation of phosphorylation of AKT, p85 and augmented cleaved caspase-3, phosphoglycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK3β) were reported. The extract significantly increased the proapoptotic cell population and reduced viability compared to control cells. The finding indicates the anticancerous activity of C. militaris occurred by regulating of p85/AKT- or GSK3β-related caspase 3-dependent apoptosis ^[11]. Similarly, methanolic extracts showed good cytotoxic activity via the MTT assay against Hep-2 cancer cell lines with an IC₅₀ value of 20 μg/mL ^[12]. In another study, the effect of fluoride was monitored in the culture medium of C. militaris, and positive effects were observed on the synthesis of secondary bioactive metabolites and growth of fruiting bodies, which eventually caused reduced proliferation and apoptosis in a human osteosarcoma (U2OS) cell line ^[13]. Another study discussed the decreased apoptotic activity of aqueous extract of C. militaris (AECM) on MDA-MB-231 cells. It showed significant induction of mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of mitochondrial membrane permeability by modulating Bcl2/Bax proteins, and also caspase activation ^[14]. Another report showed the tumor inhibitory effects of an ethanolic extract of C. militaris in xenograft Balb/c nude mice transfected with human colorectal carcinoma RKO cells. The oral administration of test extracts led to delayed growth of RKO cell-derived tumors. It also stimulated cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase (66.33% at 300 μg/mL) and enhanced early apoptosis (18.07% at 300 μg/mL). Western blot analysis indicated an increase in the expression levels of p53, cleaved caspase 9, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, and Bim, Bak, and Bad proteins ^[15]. A mechanistic based study conducted by Chou et al., revealed that anticancerous effects of C. militaris on leukemia cell lines might be attributed to activation of AKT and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), during the course of apoptosis induction, suggesting the possible use of its extracts against leukemia by activating the p38 MAPK pathway ^[16]. Another mechanism of the apoptosis of lung carcinoma by C. militaris extracts is related to downregulation of TCTN3 expression, which affected the hedgehog signaling cascade and contributed to the serial activation of caspases. Additionally, the extract negatively modulated GLI1 transcriptional activity by inhibiting SMO/PTCH1 molecules, subsequently regulating the intrinsic apoptotic signaling cascade ^[17]. All these findings support the possible use of C. militaris extracts as anticancer agents in future studies.

5. Anti-Obesity Activity

C. militaris extracts possess lipid lowering activities. A novel extract of mulberry leaves fermented with C. militaris was exploited to detect its effect on lipid metabolism. Administration of an extract in a high fat diet fed to (HFD)-activated obese C57BL/6 mice for 12 weeks showed significantly decreased concentrations of triglyceride, glucose, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, and induced production of levels of high-density lipoproteins were observed. The amount of abdominal fat and the size of adipocytes were reduced compared to control groups. Moreover, the sample reduced the Fas cell surface death receptor for lipogenesis and inhibited adipocyte protein 2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ mRNA expression ^[18]. Recently, strawberry extracts fermented with C. militaris showed enhanced levels of secondary metabolites as well as different extents of inhibition of adipogenesis in a 3T3-L1 cell line ^[19]^[20]. The extract also showed dose-dependent suppressed differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into mature adipocytes and did not show any toxic effects on cells. An associated reduction in lipid accumulation, increased levels of adipocyte markers including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, adiponectin, and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α, as well as continuous expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein (pre adipocytes marker) were observed ^[21].

6. Anti-Allergic Activity

Allergic responses are associated with disorders related to the immune system, where intense immune reactions occur in response to various triggers such as foods, chemicals, pollens and particulate matter^[22]. Primarily, production of CD4+ specific allergen cells i.e., type 2 helper, Th2 are accompanied by the generation of interleukins (IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13) by the effector Th2 cells, which subsequently results in the generation of IgE i.e., allergen related immunoglobins from B cells. IgE reactions with allergen cytokines generate the allergic reaction. Therefore, suppression of both allergen cytokines and IgE are effects of therapeutic agents for allergies. Aqueous extracts of C. militaris have demonstrated asthma-preventing potential in ovalbumin (OVA)-activated experimental animals at a dose of 4 g/kg/day. Results revealed a decreased concentration of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) as well as fewer infiltrating cells in the airways of mice treated with test extracts, although efficiency was less compared to montelukast and steroids, which are standard drugs for the treatment of asthma ^[23]. In another study, C. militaris (ethyl acetate extract) inhibited allergic reactions in a concentration-dependent manner in basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. Extracts inhibited antigen-activated degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 28.5 μg/mL. The extract prevented antigen-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in experimental animals in a concentration-dependent manner ^[24]. In another study, an extract of C. militaris cultured on germinated soybean extract showed inhibitory potential in 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB)-activated contact dermatitis mice models at a concentration of 300 mg/kg. It not only led to reduced ear swelling but also reduced infiltration of T, CD4 and CD8 cells in the ear tissues of the mice ^[25]. A study was performed to determine the molecular mechanisms of allergy prevention. An ethyl alcohol extract prepared from silkworm pupa-cultivated C. militaris fruiting bodies in immunogen triggered RBL-2H3 mast cells inhibited the release of β-hexosaminidase (a degranulation marker) and mRNA levels of TNF-α, as well as IL-4. Western blotting results revealed the inhibition of the Syk/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K)/MEKK4/JNK/c-Jun signaling cascade associated with the expression of various allergic cytokines in stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. Additionally, inhibited PLCγ evocation, and Erk activation were involved in stimulating the synthesis of lipid mediators and Ca²⁺ mobilization, which favor degranulation in activated RBL-2H3 cells ^[26].

7. Other

Several studies have documented the antihyperglycemic potential of C. militaris. Oral administration of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of C. militaris to diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats caused significant reduction in blood glucose levels. These results were due to increased glucose metabolism and suppression of total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations ^[27]. The diabetic preventive potential of different fractions of C. militaris in streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals was determined in another study, resulting reduced blood glucose levels in which C. militaris extract acted as an insulin sensitizer (enhanced insulin secretion and insulin resistance in type II diabetic rats) ^[28]. This medicinal fungus has also proved its importance as a fertility enhancer, antimicrobial and antiaging species ^[29].

References

Abdul-Rehman Phull; Madiha Ahmed; Hye-Jin Park; Cordyceps militaris as a Bio Functional Food Source: Pharmacological Potential, Anti-Inflammatory Actions and Related Molecular Mechanisms. Microorganisms 2022, 10, 405, 10.3390/microorganisms10020405.
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