Dynamical influence of Cordyceps sinensis on the activity of hepatic insulinase of experimental liver cirrhosis.
CS may decrease the damage to hepatocyte by CCl4, and inhibit hepatic fibrogenesis. Six weeks after CCl4 administration, the activity of hepatic insulinase began decreasing. CS could not inhibit the decrease of the activity of hepatic insulinase.
Inhibitive effect of cordyceps sinensis on experimental hepatic fibrosis and its possible mechanism.
To investigate the inhibitive effect and its possible mechanism of Cordyceps Sinensis (CS) on CCl(4)-plus ethanol-induced hepatic fibrogenesis in experimental rats.
Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of cordymin, a peptide purified from the medicinal mushroom Cordyceps sinensis.
The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of cordymin, a peptide purified from the medicinal mushroom Cordyceps sinensis, were studied. The effects of cordymin on cytokine levels and total antioxidant activity were analysed. The antinociceptive effects of cordymin in vivo and in vitro were also determined.
Cordyceps sinensis mycelium activates PKA and PKC signal pathways to stimulate steroidogenesis in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells
Cordyceps sinensis (CS) mycelium stimulates steroidogenesis in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells, but the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, MA-10 cells were treated with different reagents in the presence or absence of CS (10 mg/ml) for 3 h to determine the mechanisms. Results illustrated that CS activated the Gsalpha protein subunit, but not Gialpha, to induce cell steroidogenesis. Moreover, PKA inhibitors inhibited 37% of CS-stimulated steroidogenesis, which demonstrated that CS might enhance the cAMP-PKA pathway to affect MA-10 cell steroidogenesis. Because of incomplete inhibition by PKA inhibitors, we also examined the PKC pathway. PKC inhibitor, phospholipase C inhibitor, and calmodulin antagonist blocked 35-52% of CS-stimulated steroidogenesis in MA-10 cells, strongly suggesting that CS had activated the PKC pathway. Co-treatment with PKA and PKC inhibitors abolished 61% of CS-stimulated steroid production, indicating that CS simultaneously activated PKA and PKC pathways. Moreover, CS induced the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein in dose- and time-dependent relationships, and PKA inhibitor, PKC inhibitor, or co-treatment with both inhibitors suppressed it. These data support that CS activates both PKA and PKC signal transduction pathways to stimulate MA-10 cell steroidogenesis.
Antioxidant activity of the extracts from fruiting bodies of cultured Cordyceps sinensis
Cordyceps sinensis is one of the most valued herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. We investigated the antioxidant activities of the cultured fruiting bodies of Cordyceps sinesis. The water and ethanol extracts of Cordyceps sinensis were found to possess a potent antioxidant activity. The scavenging effects of the extracts on superoxide were very weak, but the extracts moderately inhibited malondialdehyde formation via hydroxyl radical induced by SIN-1, a peroxynitrite generator. Of the extracts examined, the hot water extract (70 degrees C for 5 min) showed the greatest oxygen free radical scavenging activity. Also, when low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was incubated with macrophages in the presence of CuCl2 (1 microM), the hot water extract showed a strong inhibitory effect against lipid peroxidation in the medium and consequent accumulation of cholesteryl ester in macrophages. Their activities were comparable to that of authentic Cu/Zn SOD. These results suggest that the extracts of cultured Cordyceps sinensis possess potent antioxidant and anti-lipid peroxidation activities and inhibit accumulation of cholesteryl ester in macrophages via suppression of LDL oxidation.
Supplemental anti-fatigue effects of Cordyceps sinensis (Tochu-Kaso) extract powder during three stepwise exercise of human
The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the cultured Cordyceps sinensis (Cs, supplement) powder during exhaustive running of human comparing with the placebo (control). These supplements were given to 36 male sedentary subjects over period of 2 weeks. During the exercise, following bio-signals were measured such as the respiratory variables (VO2, VCO2, VE), the blood pressure (BP), the heart rate (HR), and the lactic acid (LA). In addition, their storing urine for one night was inspected about the catecholamine (CA, Adr, NorA, Dop) and the cortisol hormone (17-KA-S and 17-OHCS) at the pre- and the post-ingesting with those supplements. The changing ratio calculating between the pre- and the post-variables Of VO2/kg (5.2.+-.0.1 & 4.8.+-.0.1ml), VE (12.0.+-.0.2 & 11.0.+-.0.2L), and LA (6.1.+-.2.1 & 5.2.+-.2.6 mmol/dl) had decreased to lower percentages at the recovery period from the exercise test than those of CON, significantly (p<0.01). Futhermore, concentration of the total CA (1.19.+-.0.51 & 1.29.+-.0.49mg/L), Adr (13.5.+-.1.2 & 17.7.+-.1.9.MU.g/L), NorA (127.4.+-.8.1 & 130.0.+-.8.5.MU.g/L), Dop (1.06.+-.0.1 & 1.14.+-.0.4mg/L), 17-OHCS/creatinine (4.42.+-.0.30 & 4.2.+-.0.31), and 17-KS-G/creatinine (3.18.+-.0.09 & 3.06.+-.0.07) showed changes of significant difference related to the placebo (p<0.05). There have been appeared an augmentation of the energy generation and the anti-fatigue ability intaking with this supplement during the exercise test. During this prolonged exercise, ingesting with this Cs might elicit the superior efficiency and the economical function on the energy metabolism. (author abst.)
Upregulation of steroidogenic enzymes and ovarian 17beta-estradiol in human granulosa-lutein cells by Cordyceps sinensis mycelium
There is increasing evidence that 17beta-estradiol (E2) directly influences the quality of maturing oocytes and thus the outcome of assisted reproduction treatment. Although Cordyceps sinensis (CS) mycelium, a Chinese herbal medicine, is believed to enhance libido and fertility in both sexes, the mechanism of its effect in women has not been determined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of CS on steroidogenic enzyme expression and E2 biosynthesis in human granulosa-lutein cells (GLC). We found that CS induced E2 production by GLC in a dose- and time-dependent manner and that a 3-h treatment with CS induced increased levels of mRNAs coding for the P450 side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD), and aromatase. Western blot analysis demonstrated that, after treatment with CS for 3 h, protein levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and aromatase were upregulated while P450scc and 3beta-HSD levels showed no substantial change. New protein synthesis was required for CS-induced E2 production because it was abrogated by cycloheximide pretreatment. Addition of 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol, thus bypassing the need for StAR protein, did not induce as much E2 production as CS treatment, indicating that upregulation of StAR protein was not the only factor contributing to CS-induced steroidogenesis. Cotreatment of GLCs with CS and aminoglutethimide, an aromatase inhibitor, completely abolished CS-induced E2 production. In conclusion, treatment of GLCs with CS results in increased E2 production due, at least in part, to increased StAR and aromatase expression. These data may help in the development of treatment regimens to improve the success rate of in vitro fertilization.