Research - Cordyceps Spp
Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Cordyceps sinensis on Stable COPD of GOLD Stages 2–3: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Xuhua Yu,1 Yuquan Mao,1 Johannah Linda Shergis,2 Meaghan E. Coyle,2Lei Wu,1 Yuanbin Chen,1 Anthony Lin Zhang,2 Lin Lin,1 Charlie Changli Xue,1,2 and Yinji Xu
Abstract
Cordyceps sinensis (CS) is a complementary medicine used for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) of Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages 2-3. Many randomized controlled trials have been conducted to evaluate the effect of CS alone or in combination with other herbs on stable COPD. To provide a synthesis of the evidence, we searched nine major electronic databases for randomized controlled trials on CS published before 21st December 2016. Fifteen interventional studies, including 1,238 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis showed that both CS preparations and CS formulae showed the potential benefits in lung function, exercise endurance, life quality, and improvement of symptoms. No serious adverse events were reported. So CS may be a promising treatment for patients with stable COPD of GOLD stages 2-3. No studies were placebo-controlled or of high methodological quality, which limits the conclusions
Source : Journal Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Immunostimulatory effects of cordycepin‐enriched WIB‐801CE from Cordyceps militaris in splenocytes and cyclophosphamide‐induced immunosuppressed mice
Ji‐Sun Shin Soo‐Hak Chung , Woo‐Seok Lee, Je‐Young Lee, Jong‐Lae Kim, Kyung‐Tae Lee
Abstract
The medicinal mushroom Cordyceps militaris has been reported to possess anticancer and immunomodulatory effects. We investigated the immunostimulatory effects of culture supernatant of C. militaris (WIB‐801CE) by examining its in vitro enhancing effects on cell proliferation and cytokine releases in splenocytes and its in vivo effects on cyclophosphamide‐induced immunosuppressed mice. WIB‐801CE enhanced normal and methotrexate‐induced cell proliferation. WIB‐801CE significantly ameliorated interleukin (IL)‐2, interferon‐γ, and tumor necrosis factor‐α secretion in methotrexate‐induced splenocytes. Oral administration of WIB‐801CE effectively increased the cyclophosphamide‐suppressed splenocyte proliferation and natural killer cytotoxic activity. WIB‐801CE effectively recovered cyclophosphamide‐induced decreases in IL‐2, interferon‐γ, tumor necrosis factor‐α, and IL‐10 level. The collective data implicate WIB‐801CE as a therapeutic candidate in ameliorating the immunosuppression through immunostimulatory properties.
Source : Journal Phytotherapy Research
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Post-ischemic Treatment of WIB801C, Standardized Cordyceps Extract, Reduces Cerebral Ischemic Injury via Inhibition of Inflammatory Cell Migration.
Hwang S1, Cho GS1, Ryu S1, Kim HJ1, Song HY1, Yune TY2, Ju C3, Kim WK4.Author information
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:Anti-inflammatory therapy has been intensively investigated as a potential strategy for treatment of cerebral stroke. However, despite many positive outcomes reported in animal studies, anti-inflammatory treatments have not proven successful in humans as yet. Although immunomodulatory activity and safety of Cordyceps species (Chinese caterpillar fungi) have been proven in clinical trials and traditional Asian prescriptions for inflammatory diseases, its anti-ischemic effect remains elusive.
AIM OF THE STUDY:In the present study, therefore, we investigated the potential therapeutic efficacy of WIB801C, the standardized extract of C. militaris, for treatment of cerebral ischemic stroke.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:The anti-chemotactic activity of WIB801C was assayed in cultured rat microglia/macrophages. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to ischemic stroke via either transient (1.5-h tMCAO and subsequent 24-h reperfusion) or permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO for 24-h without reperfusion). WIB801C was orally administered twice at 3-and 8-h (50 mg/kg each) after the onset of MCAO. Infarct volume, edema, blood brain barrier and white matter damages, neurological deficits, and long-term survival rates were investigated. The infiltration of inflammatory cells into ischemic lesions was assayed by immunostaining.
RESULTS:WIB801C significantly decreased migration of cultured microglia/macrophages. This anti-chemotactic activity of WIB-801C was not mediated via adenosine A3 receptors, although cordycepin, the major ingredient of WIB801C, is known as an adenosine receptor agonist. Post-ischemic treatment with WIB801C significantly reduced the infiltration of ED-1-and MPO-positive inflammatory cells into ischemic lesions in tMCAO rats. WIB801C-treated rats exhibited significantly decreased infarct volume and cerebral edema, less white matter and blood-brain barrier damages, and improved neurological deficits. WIB801C also improved survival rates over 34 days after ischemia onset. A significant reduction in infarct volume and neurobehavioral deficits by WIB801C was also observed in rats subjected to pMCAO.
CONCLUSIONS:In summary, post-ischemic treatment of WIB801C reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells into ischemic lesions via inhibition of chemotaxis, which confers long-lasting histological and neurological protection in ischemic brain. WIB801C may be a promising anti-ischemic drug candidate with clinically relevant therapeutic time window and safety.
Source : Ethnopharmacology
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