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Sharma H, Sharma N, An SSA. Unique Bioactives from Zombie Fungus ( Cordyceps) as Promising Multitargeted Neuroprotective Agents. Nutrients 2023; 16:102. [PMID: 38201932 PMCID: PMC10780653 DOI: 10.3390/nu16010102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cordyceps, also known as "zombie fungus", is a non-poisonous mushroom that parasitizes insects for growth and development by manipulating the host system in a way that makes the victim behave like a "zombie". These species produce promising bioactive metabolites, like adenosine, β-glucans, cordycepin, and ergosterol. Cordyceps has been used in traditional medicine due to its immense health benefits, as it boosts stamina, appetite, immunity, longevity, libido, memory, and sleep. Neuronal loss is the typical feature of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) (Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)) and neurotrauma. Both these conditions share common pathophysiological features, like oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and glutamatergic excitotoxicity. Cordyceps bioactives (adenosine, N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine, ergosta-7, 9 (11), 22-trien-3β-ol, active peptides, and polysaccharides) exert potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities and display beneficial effects in the management and/or treatment of neurodegenerative disorders in vitro and in vivo. Although a considerable list of compounds is available from Cordyceps, only a few have been evaluated for their neuroprotective potential and still lack information for clinical trials. In this review, the neuroprotective mechanisms and safety profile of Cordyceps extracts/bioactives have been discussed, which might be helpful in the identification of novel potential therapeutic entities in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Niti Sharma
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon Bionano Research Institute, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 461-701, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea;
| | - Seong Soo A. An
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon Bionano Research Institute, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 461-701, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea;
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Mishra J, Khan W, Ahmad S, Misra K. Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extracts of Cordyceps sinensis: Chromatography-based Metabolite Profiling and Protective Efficacy Against Hypobaric Hypoxia. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:628924. [PMID: 34512317 PMCID: PMC8426348 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.628924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The toxicity and disposal concerns of organic solvents used in conventional extraction purposes has entailed the need for greener alternatives. Among such techniques, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has gained popularity by yielding extracts of high purity in a much faster manner. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is generally preferred as a supercritical solvent because of its lower temperature requirements, better diffusivity and easy removal. The present study describes the characterization of supercritical CO2 extracts of Indian variety of Cordyceps sinensis (CS)- a high-altitude medicinal mushroom widely revered in traditional medicine for its extensive anti-hypercholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and energy-enhancing properties. Experimental parameters viz. 300 and 350 bar of extraction pressure, 60°C of temperature, 0.4°L/h CO2 of flow rate and use of 1% (v/v) of ethanol as entrainer were optimized to prepare three different extracts namely, CSF1, CSF2 and CSF3. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) was used for assessing the quality of all the extracts in terms of cordycepin, the pivot biomarker compound in CS. Characterization by HPTLC and GC-MS confirmed the presence of flavonoids and nucleobases and, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), respectively. The chromatographic data acquired from metabolite profiling were subjected to chemometric analysis in an open source R studio which illustrated interrelatedness between CSF1 and CSF2 in terms of two major principal components. i.e. Dim 1 and Dim 2 whose values were 40.33 and 30.52% in variables factor map plotted using the HPTLC-generated retardation factor values. The factor maps based on retention times of the VOCs exhibited a variance of Dim 1 = 43.95% and Dim 2 = 24.85%. Furthermore, the extracts demonstrated appreciable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein leakage and efflux pump inhibition within bacterial pathogens. CSFs were elucidated to be significantly cytoprotective (p < 0.05) in a simulated hypobaric hypoxia milieu (0.5% oxygen). CSF2 showed the best results by effectively improving the viability of human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells to 82.36 ± 1.76% at an optimum dose of 100 µg/ml. Levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) were modulated four-fold upon supplementation with CSF2. The results collectively evinced that the CSF extracts are substantially bioactive and could be effectively utilized as mycotherapeutics for multiple bioeffects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Washim Khan
- Bioactive Natural Products Laboratory, Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India.,National Center for Natural Products Research, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, United States
| | - Sayeed Ahmad
- Bioactive Natural Products Laboratory, Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
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Shen Q, Miao CX, Zhang WL, Li YW, Chen QQ, Li XX, Liu X, Zhang XW. SiBaoChongCao exhibited anti-fatigue activities and ameliorated cancer cachexia in mice. RSC Adv 2019; 9:17440-17456. [PMID: 35519898 PMCID: PMC9064606 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra00718k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
SiBaoChongCao (SBCC) is a functional food product containing fermentation of Acremonium terricola belonging to the Cordyceps genus. SBCC at 1 and 2 g kg−1 for 20 days exhibited anti-fatigue activities such as increasing exhaustive swimming and running time of mice and increasing the strength of muscle. The increased muscle endurance in SBCC-treated mice might be related to enhancement of muscle cell growth and differentiation and improvement of muscle response to exercise training, as shown by an increase in muscle cross-sectional area and elevation of MHC, MyoD, MyoG and PGC-1α levels. And, SBCC at 1.5 g kg−1 could ameliorate cancer-related cachexia such as ameliorating decrease in body temperature and inhibiting fat tissue atrophy. The anti-cachexia effects of SBCC might be related to inhibition of inflammatory cytokine IL-6 secretion and suppression of over-lipolysis and lipid over-utilization through inhibiting the activation of AMPK and p38 MAPK and down-regulating the level of UCP1. SBCC exhibits anti-fatigue activity by improving muscle endurance and ameliorates cancer cachexia by alleviating loss of fat and body temperature.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Shen
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University Shanghai 200062 China +86 21 52127904
| | - Chun-Xiao Miao
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University Shanghai 200062 China +86 21 52127904
| | - Wan-Li Zhang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University Shanghai 200062 China +86 21 52127904
| | - Yi-Wei Li
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University Shanghai 200062 China +86 21 52127904
| | - Qiao-Qiao Chen
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Biomedical Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai 201203 China +86 21 51323192
| | - Xiao-Xiang Li
- Hefei SiBaoChongCao Technology Co. Ltd Hefei 230088 China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Biomedical Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai 201203 China +86 21 51323192
| | - Xiong-Wen Zhang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University Shanghai 200062 China +86 21 52127904
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Hirsch KR, Smith-Ryan AE, Roelofs EJ, Trexler ET, Mock MG. Cordyceps militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise After Acute and Chronic Supplementation. J Diet Suppl 2016; 14:42-53. [PMID: 27408987 DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2016.1203386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
To determine the effects of a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps militaris on high-intensity exercise after 1 and 3 weeks of supplementation. Twenty-eight individuals (Mean ± standard deviation [SD]; Age = 22.7 ± 4.1 yrs; Height = 175.4 ± 8.7 cm; Weight = 71.6 ± 12.0 kg) participated in this randomized, repeated measures, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), time to exhaustion (TTE), and ventilatory threshold (VT) were measured during a maximal graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Relative peak power output (RPP), average power output (AvgP), and percent drop (%drop) were recorded during a 3 minute maximal cycle test with resistance at 4.5% body weight. Subjects consumed 4 g·d-1 mushroom blend (MR) or maltodextrin (PL) for 1 week. Ten volunteers supplemented for an additional 2 weeks. Exercise tests were separated by at least 48 hours and repeated following supplementation periods. One week of supplementation elicited no significant time × treatment interaction for VO2max (p = 0.364), VT (p = 0.514), TTE (p = 0.540), RPP (p = 0.134), AvgP (p = 0.398), or %drop (p = 0.823). After 3 weeks, VO2max significantly improved (p = 0.042) in MR (+4.8 ml·kg-1·min-1), but not PL (+0.9 ml·kg-1·min-1). Analysis of 95% confidence intervals revealed significant improvements in TTE after 1- (+28.1 s) and 3 weeks (+69.8 s) in MR, but not PL, with additional improvements in VO2max (+4.8 ml·kg-1·min-1) and VT (+0.7 l·min-1) after 3 weeks. Acute supplementation with a Cordyceps militaris containing mushroom blend may improve tolerance to high-intensity exercise; greater benefits may be elicited with consistent chronic supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie R Hirsch
- a Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Applied Physiology Lab , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC , USA
| | - Abbie E Smith-Ryan
- a Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Applied Physiology Lab , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.,b Human Movement Science Curriculum , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC , USA
| | - Erica J Roelofs
- a Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Applied Physiology Lab , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.,c Nutrition, Health, and Human Performance Department , Meredith College , Raleigh , NC , USA
| | - Eric T Trexler
- a Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Applied Physiology Lab , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.,b Human Movement Science Curriculum , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC , USA
| | - Meredith G Mock
- a Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Applied Physiology Lab , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC , USA
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Kumar R, Negi PS, Singh B, Ilavazhagan G, Bhargava K, Sethy NK. Cordyceps sinensis promotes exercise endurance capacity of rats by activating skeletal muscle metabolic regulators. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2011; 136:260-266. [PMID: 21549819 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2010] [Revised: 03/15/2011] [Accepted: 04/21/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Cordyceps sinensis is a traditional Chinese medicine used for promotion of health, longevity and athletic power. However, the molecular mechanism for anti-fatigue activity and physical fitness has not yet been reported. AIM OF THE STUDY The present study was conducted to evaluate the exercise endurance promoting activities of fungal traditional Chinese medicine (FTCM) Cordyceps sinensis cultured whole mycelium (CS) and the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS CS was orally supplemented (200mg/kg body weight/day) to rats for 15days with or without swimming exercise along with exercise and placebo groups. RESULTS Both CS supplementation and supplementation concurrent with exercise improved exercise endurance by 1.79- (P<0.05) and 2.9-fold (P<0.01) respectively as compared to placebo rats. CS supplementation concurrent with exercise also increased the swimming endurance by 1.32-fold (P<0.05) over the exercise group. To study the molecular mechanism of the observed effect, we measured the expression levels of endurance responsive skeletal muscle metabolic regulators AMPK, PGC-1α and PPAR-δ as well as endurance promoting and antioxidant genes like MCT1, MCT4, GLUT4, VEGF, NRF-2, SOD1 and TRX in red gastrocnemius muscle. Our results indicate that CS supplementation significantly upregulates the skeletal muscle metabolic regulators, angiogenesis, better glucose and lactate uptake both in exercised and non-exercised rats. We have also observed increased expression of oxidative stress responsive transcription factor NRF-2 and its downstream targets SOD1 and TRX by CS supplementation. CONCLUSION CS supplementation with or without exercise improves exercise endurance capacity by activating the skeletal muscle metabolic regulators and a coordinated antioxidant response. Consequently, CS can be used as a potent natural exercise mimetic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Kumar
- Peptide and Proteomics Division, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi 110054, India
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