Immunomodulatory effect of exo-polysaccharides from submerged cultured Cordyceps sinensis: enhancement of cytokine synthesis, CD11b expression, and phagocytosis

Bioactive compounds from Cordyceps and their therapeutic potential

The Clavicipitaceae family's largest and most diverse genus is Cordyceps. They are most abundant and diverse in humid temperate and tropical forests and have a wide distribution in: Europe, North America, and East and Southeast Asian countries, particularly: Bhutan, China, Japan, Nepal, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Tibet, and the Himalayan region of India, and Sikkim. It is a well-known parasitic fungus that feeds on insects and other arthropods belonging to 10 different orders. Over 200 bioactive metabolites, that include: nucleotides and nucleosides, polysaccharides, proteins, polypeptides, amino acids, sterols, and fatty acids, among others have been extracted from Cordyceps spp. demonstrating the phytochemical richness of this genus. These components have been associated with a variety of pharmacological effects, including: anti-microbial, anti-apoptotic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities. In this paper, the bioactivity of various classes of metabolites produced by Cordyceps spp., and their therapeutic properties have been reviewed in an attempt to update the existing literature. Furthermore, one of its nucleoside and a key bioactive compound, cordycepin has been critically elaborated with regard to its biosynthesis pathway and the recently proposed protector-protégé mechanism as well as various biological and pharmacological effects, such as: suppression of purine and nucleic acid biosynthesis, induction of apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation with their mechanism of action. This review provides current knowledge on the bioactive potential of Cordyceps spp.

The protective effect of Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide on intestinal barrier function damage induced by acrylamide in mice through TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB based on the iTRAQ analysis

The potential mechanism for the protective effect of Ganoderma atrum (G. atrum) polysaccharide (PSG-1) on acrylamide (AA) induced intestinal damage in mice was explored. Results showed that PSG-1 pretreatment prevented AA-induced injury by decreasing intestinal permeability and serum D-lactate acid (D-Lac) levels and increasing the number of small intestinal goblet cells and IgA secreting cells. In addition, PSG-1 pretreatment effectively reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) level and raised superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) activities in the intestine. Furthermore, PSG-1 administration decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory factors including IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6, while the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 was elevated. Meanwhile, PSG-1 could increase the performance of tight junction (TJ) proteins such as Occludin, Claudin-1 and ZO-1. Moreover, according to the isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and Western blot results, PSG-1 could reduce AA-induced intestinal injury through TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Overall, the present study suggested that PSG-1 protected intestinal permeability and barrier function in mice via reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and effectively prevented AA-induced intestinal injury in mice.

Antioxidant and Immunostimulatory Activities of a Submerged Culture of Cordyceps sinensis Using Spent Coffee

Spent coffee grounds (SCG) are inexpensive materials that have been used as a source of antioxidants and polysaccharides with immunostimulatory activity. In this study, we performed a microbial fermentation of SCG using Cordyceps sinensis and investigated the radical scavenging and immunostimulatory activity of fermented SCG. SCG fermentation using C. sinensis was performed at 25 °C for 8 d. The polyphenol content of the fermented SCG increased from 1022.4 to 1562.0 μg/mL. The glucosamine content of the mycelia also continuously increased during fermentation. The main polyphenol compounds of fermented SCG were chlorogenic acid and p-coumaric acid, which were increased by fermentation. Fermented SCG also showed significantly higher content of chlorogenic acid isomers than unfermented SCG. The fermented SCG exhibited significantly higher 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (half maximal inhibitory concentration: IC₅₀, 0.37 mg/mL) and 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (IC₅₀, 0.93 mg/mL) radical scavenging activities than those of the control (0.54 mg/mL and 1.20 mg/mL, respectively; p < 0.05). The fermented SCG stimulated macrophages and promoted the production of various immunostimulatory cytokines (IL-12, IL-6, and TNF-α) compared to control; therefore, microbial fermentation of SCG using C. sinensis is an effective means of generating antioxidant and immunostimulatory materials.

Cordyceps polysaccharide marker CCP modulates immune responses via highly selective TLR4/MyD88/p38 axis

Cordyceps, one of the most expensive natural health supplements, is popularly used to modulate immune function. However, little is known regarding the underlying mechanism of its immunomodulatory activity. We newly reported a Cordyceps quality marker CCP (Mw 433.778 kDa) which was characterized as a 1,4-α glucan by chemical and spectral analysis and is able to induce significant immune responses of macrophages. Herein, we further investigated the molecular mechanism of CCP's immunomodulatory effects. The results indicate that CCP modulates the TLR4/MyD88/p38 signaling pathway of macrophages, where TLR4 plays a crucial role as verified on TLR4-deficient (TLR4^-/-) bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and TLR4^-/- mice. These findings provide a precise understanding of the molecular mechanism of Cordyceps' immunomodulatory benefits.

Antitumor effect of soluble β-glucan as an immune stimulant

β-glucans are linear polysaccharides of d-glucose monomers linked through β-glycosidic bonds and are widely present in nature. Different sources lead to their structural differences. β-glucan has long been acknowledged to be a safe and functional component. Its biological activities include lipid-lowering, hypoglycemic, antitumor and immune regulation etc. A large number of studies have shown that soluble β-glucan can bind to their receptors on the surface of immune cells, activates the pro-inflammatory response of innate immune cells, and enhances the host's antitumor defense. A variety of soluble β-glucans have been widely used in clinical antitumor studies as an immunostimulant to treat the cancer patient. In this paper, we reviewed the molecular structure, antitumor immune activities, structure-activity relationship and clinical trials of soluble β-glucans in order to provide the overall scene of β-glucans as immunostimulant to fight the cancer.

Water-soluble polysaccharides from Grifola Frondosa fruiting bodies protect against immunosuppression in cyclophosphamide-induced mice via JAK2/STAT3/SOCS signal transduction pathways

Grifola Frondosa, the king of mushrooms, is one of the most valued traditional medicines and has been used as a health food for a long time in China, Japan, and other Asian countries. The present study was designed to evaluate the immune-modulating effects of water-soluble polysaccharides from the Grifola Frondosa fruiting body (GFP) by using mouse peritoneal macrophage and cytoxan (CTX) induced immunosuppression models. Compared with CTX-induced immunosuppressive mice, the spleen and thymus indexes in mice with GFP orally administrated were significantly increased, body weight loss was alleviated, and the natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity and the proliferative activities of lymphocytes were elevated. Furthermore, levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were notably reduced by CTX, while GFP abolished these effects. GFP also effectively increased total antioxidant capacity and superoxidase dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and inhibited an increase in the malondialdehyde level. Histopathological analysis of spleens revealed the protective effect of GFP against CTX-induced immunosuppression. Western blotting results showed that GFP possessed immunomodulatory activity by up-regulating transcription factors (p-JAK2/JAK2, p-STAT3/STAT3 and SOCS3) in JAK2/STAT3/SOCS signaling pathways. This study suggested that GFP may provide an alternative strategy for lessening chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression.

Immunomodulatory effects of a mycelium extract of Cordyceps (Paecilomyces hepiali; CBG-CS-2): a randomized and double-blind clinical trial

Background

Cordyceps is a traditional Chinese herb that produces various biopharmaceutical effects, including immune-enhancing effects. In this study, we prepared a Cordyceps mycelium culture extract (Paecilomyces hepiali, CBG-CS-2) to confirm its efficacy in enhancing the immune system and to evaluate its safety in healthy adults.

Methods

Healthy adults were divided into the intervention group (n = 39), who were given 1.68 g/day of CBG-CS-2 in capsules, and the control group (n = 40) for 8 weeks. The activities of natural killer (NK) cells and serum levels of monocyte-derived mediators were assessed initially for a baseline measurement and after 8 wks.

Results

The CBG-CS-2 group showed a significant 38.8 ± 17.6% enhancement from the baseline of NK cell cytotoxic activity relative to the placebo group after the administration of the capsules for 8 wks. (P < 0.019).

Conclusion

The results suggest that the immune system functions well with CBG-CS-2 supplementation, perhaps with less accompanying inflammation. Thus, CBG-CS-2 is safe and effective for enhancing cell-mediated immunity in healthy adults.

Trial registration

This study was registered at Clinical Trials.gov (NCT 02814617).

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-019-2483-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Structural analysis and immunostimulatory activity of glycopeptides from Paecilomyces sinensis

The parasitic fungus, Paecilomyces sinensis, is used to produce Cordyceps materials as a succedaneum of natural Cordyceps sinensis (C. sinensis) in China.

A novel polysaccharide from mycelia of cultured Phellinus linteus displays antitumor activity through apoptosis

Two novel polysaccharides termed PLPS-1 and PLPS-2 were isolated from mycelia of cultured Phellinus linteus by hot water extraction, purified by DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography, and structurally characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, GC-MS, periodate oxidation/Smith degradation, and methylation analysis. The monosaccharide compositions of PLPS-1 (MW 2.5×10(5)Da) and PLPS-2 (MW 2.8×10(4)Da) were respectively Glc, Ara, Fuc, Gal, and Xyl in molar ratio 21.964:1.336:1.182:1:1, and Glc, Gal, Man, Ara, Fuc, Xyl in molar ratio 14.368:2.594:1.956:1.552:1.466:1; i.e., both were heteropolysaccharides. The backbone of PLPS-1 consisted primarily of repeating α-d-Glc(1→4)-α-d-Glc(1→6) units, while that of PLPS-2 consisted of α-(1→3)-d-Glc and α-(1→6)-d-Glc. The side branches were also different in their carbohydrate components. In in vitro antitumor assays, PLPS-1 displayed strong anti-proliferative effect against S-180 sarcoma cells through apoptosis, whereas PLPS-2 had no such effect. The difference in antitumor activity between the two PLPS evidently results from their structural differences. PLPS-1 has potential as a novel anticancer agent.

Functional polysaccharides from medicinal mushroom Cordyceps sinensis as a potent food supplement: extraction, characterization and therapeutic potentials – a systematic review

As a rich source of novel polysaccharides, Cordyceps sinensis (CS), one of the valued traditional Chinese medicinal fungi, is a major focus of many natural products research efforts.

Pharmacological and therapeutic potential of Cordyceps with special reference to Cordycepin

An entomopathogenic fungus, Cordyceps sp. has been known to have numerous pharmacological and therapeutic implications, especially, in terms of human health making it a suitable candidate for ethno-pharmacological use. Main constituent of the extract derived from this fungus comprises a novel bio-metabolite called as Cordycepin (3′deoxyadenosine) which has a very potent anti-cancer, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The current review discusses about the broad spectrum potential of Cordycepin including biological and pharmacological actions in immunological, hepatic, renal, cardiovascular systems as well as an anti-cancer agent. The article also reviews the current efforts to delineate the mechanism of action of Cordycepin in various bio-molecular processes. The study will certainly draw the attention of scientific community to improve the bioactivity and production of Cordycepin for its commercial use in pharmacological and medical fields.

Polysaccharides from Cordyceps sinensis mycelium ameliorate exhaustive swimming exercise-induced oxidative stress

CONTEXT

Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. (Clavicipitaceae) is a famous medicinal fungus (mushroom) in Chinese herbal medicine. Polysaccharides from Cordyceps sinensis (CSP) have been identified as active ingredients responsible for its biological activities. Although many pharmacological actions of CSP have received a great deal of attention, research in this area continues.

OBJECTIVE

The current study was designed to investigate the effects of CSP on exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The mice were divided into four groups: control (C), low-dose CSP treated (LC), intermediate-dose CSP treated (IC) and high-dose CSP treated (HC). The treated groups received CSP (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, ig), while the control group received drinking water for 28 days, followed by being forced to undergo exhaustive swimming exercise, and some biochemical parameters including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were measured using detection kits according to the manufacturers' instructions.

RESULTS

Compared with the C group, exhaustive swimming time was significantly prolonged in the LC, IC and HC groups (p < 0.05); SOD activities in serum, liver and muscle were significantly higher in the IC and HC groups (p < 0.05); GPx activities in serum, liver and muscle were significantly higher in the LC, IC and HC groups (p < 0.05); CAT activities in serum, liver and muscle were significantly higher in the HC groups (p < 0.05); MDA and 8-OHdG levels in serum, liver and muscle were significantly lower in the LC, IC and HC groups (p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The results obtained herein indicate that CSP could ameliorate exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress.

Recent advances in Cordyceps sinensis polysaccharides: Mycelial fermentation, isolation, structure, and bioactivities: A review

Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) sinensis, the Chinese caterpillar fungus, is a unique and precious medicinal fungus in traditional Chinese medicine which has been used as a prestigious tonic and therapeutic herb in China for centuries. Polysaccharides are bioactive constituents of C. sinensis, exhibiting several activities such as immunomodulation, antitumour, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic. As natural C. sinensis fruiting body-caterpillar complexes are very rare and expensive, the polysaccharides documented over the last 15-20 years from this fungal species were mostly extracted from cultivated fungal mycelia (intracellular polysaccharides) or from mycelial fermentation broth (exopolysaccharides). Extraction and purification of the polysaccharides is a tedious process involving numerous steps of liquid and solid phase separations. Nevertheless, a large number of polysaccharide structures have been purified and elucidated. However, relationships between the structures and activities of these polysaccharides are not well established. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the most recent developments in various aspects (i.e., production, extraction, structure, and bioactivity) of the intracellular and exopolysaccharides from mycelial fermentation of C. sinensis fungi. The contents and data will serve as useful references for further investigation, production and application of these polysaccharides in functional foods and therapeutic agents.

Bioactive principles from Cordyceps sinensis: A potent food supplement - A review

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Introducing the importance of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) and its economics.

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Alternative artificial cultivation methods for large scale production to meet the world demand for CS.

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Chemical characterization of compounds in different extracts of CS.

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Potential health benefits and mechanism of action of compounds in CS.

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Possible application of whole fungus or its extracts in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Cordyceps sinensis (CS) is a well-known entamophagus fungus, naturally distributed in the Tibetan Plateau of Asia and Himalayas. Recently this synonym is transferred to Ophiocordyceps by both scientific and non-scientific communities. It is widely used as a tonic and medicinal food in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as it possess wonderful health benefits. To support its functional attributes, various investigations have been carried out to find out its adaptogenic, aphrodisiac, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, neuroprotective, nootropic, immunomodulatory, anti-cancer and hepatoprotective role. Its fruiting portion as well as the larvae possesses potent bio-active fractions and their composition almost found to be similar in both. The bioactive principles are nucleosides, exo-polysaccharides, sterols and, proteins, among others. Among nucleosides, adenosine and cordycepin are the major biochemical markers. Further, different types of solvent extracts and their mixtures exhibit wide range of pharmacological activities, while the water and methanol extracts with the richest sources of nucleosides and polysaccharides also show wide range of pharmacological activities. This review gives a panoramic view of potential health benefits of various classes of bio-active fractions along with the need for sustainable management of CS for human wellness.

A real-time qPCR assay to quantify Ophiocordyceps sinensis biomass in Thitarodes larvae

Ophiocordyceps sinensis, an entomogenous fungus parasitic in the larvae of moths (Lepidoptera), is one of the most valuable medicinal fungi, and it only distributed naturally on the Tibetan Plateau. The parasitical amount of O. sinensis in various tissues of the host Thitarodes larvae has an important role in study the occurrence and developmental mechanisms of O. sinensis, but there no an effective method to detect the fungal anamorph. A real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) system, including a pair of species-specific ITS primers and its related program, was developed for O. sinensis assay with high reliability and efficiency. A calibration curve was established and exhibited a very good linear correlation between the fungal biomass and the C T values (R (2)=0.999419) by the qPCR system. Based on this method, O. sinensis was detected rapidly in four tissues of its host caterpillars, and the results were shown as following: the maximum content of O. sinensis parasitized in the fat-body, and next came body-wall; both of them were much larger than that observed in the haemolymph and intestinal-wall. Taken together, these results show that qPCR assays may become useful tools for study on developmental mechanism of O. sinensis.

A Systematic Review of the Mysterious Caterpillar Fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Dong-ChongXiaCao ( Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo) and Related Bioactive Ingredients

The caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn.Cordyceps sinensis), which was originally used in traditional Tibetan and Chinese medicine, is called either "yartsa gunbu" or "DongChongXiaCao ( Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo)" ("winter worm-summer grass"), respectively. The extremely high price of DongChongXiaCao, approximately USD $20,000 to 40,000 per kg, has led to it being regarded as "soft gold" in China. The multi-fungi hypothesis has been proposed for DongChongXiaCao; however, Hirsutella sinensis is the anamorph of O. sinensis. In Chinese, the meaning of "DongChongXiaCao" is different for O. sinensis, Cordyceps spp., and Cordyceps sp. Over 30 bioactivities, such as immunomodulatory, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities, have been reported for wild DongChongXiaCao and for the mycelia and culture supernatants of O. sinensis. These bioactivities derive from over 20 bioactive ingredients, mainly extracellular polysaccharides, intracellular polysaccharides, cordycepin, adenosine, mannitol, and sterols. Other bioactive components have been found as well, including two peptides (cordymin and myriocin), melanin, lovastatin, γ-aminobutyric acid, and cordysinins. Recently, the bioactivities of O. sinensis were described, and they include antiarteriosclerosis, antidepression, and antiosteoporosis activities, photoprotection, prevention and treatment of bowel injury, promotion of endurance capacity, and learning-memory improvement. H. sinensis has the ability to accelerate leukocyte recovery, stimulate lymphocyte proliferation, antidiabetes, and improve kidney injury. Starting January 1(st), 2013, regulation will dictate that one fungus can only have one name, which will end the system of using separate names for anamorphs. The anamorph name "H. sinensis" has changed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants to O. sinensis.

Immunomodulatory effect of polysaccharides from submerged cultured Cordyceps gunnii

CONTEXT

The genus Cordyceps (Clavicipitaceae) is a group of entomopathogenic fungi that is widely used as tonic food or invigorant with broad-spectrum medicinal properties in China. Cordyceps gunnii (Berk.)Berk (C. gunnii), is also well known as the Chinese rare caterpillar fungus and has similar pharmacological activities with Cordyceps sinensis (C. sinensis). Polysaccharides (PS) from various Cordyceps species have demonstrated many interesting biological activities, including antitumor, immunopotentiation, hypoglycemic, and hypocholesterolemic activities.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of C. gunnii PS on the immunostimulatory antitumor function and expression of immune related cytokines in normal, immuno-suppressive, and H22-bearing mice, respectively.

METHODS

C. gunnii PS were extracted with hot water at 80°C for 2 h. Normal, immuno-suppressive, and H22-bearing mice were treated with PS respectively. By detecting the value of macrophage phagocytic index, proliferation of lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cell activity and expression of related cytokines, interleukin (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-a) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and tumor inhibition index in H22-bearing mice additionally, the effect of PS on immunostimulatory antitumor function and its mechanism were studied.

RESULTS

The total sugar content of the PS was determined to be 95% after purification. PS markedly increased the thymus and spleen indexes, the macrophage phagocytosis, the proliferation of splenic cells, and the level of IFN-γ and TNF-α. In tumor growth inhibition test, PS showed remarkable inhibition effects.

CONCLUSION

PS from the C. gunnii could enhance nonspecific immunological function, humoral immunity, cellular immunity in mice, and inhibit tumor growth.

Gene expression profiling of dendritic cells in different physiological stages under Cordyceps sinensis treatment

Cordyceps sinensis (CS) has been commonly used as herbal medicine and a health supplement in China for over two thousand years. Although previous studies have demonstrated that CS has benefits in immunoregulation and anti-inflammation, the precise mechanism by which CS affects immunomodulation is still unclear. In this study, we exploited duplicate sets of loop-design microarray experiments to examine two different batches of CS and analyze the effects of CS on dendritic cells (DCs), in different physiology stages: naïve stage and inflammatory stage. Immature DCs were treated with CS, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or LPS plus CS (LPS/CS) for two days, and the gene expression profiles were examined using cDNA microarrays. The results of two loop-design microarray experiments showed good intersection rates. The expression level of common genes found in both loop-design microarray experiments was consistent, and the correlation coefficients (Rs), were higher than 0.96. Through intersection analysis of microarray results, we identified 295 intersecting significantly differentially expressed (SDE) genes of the three different treatments (CS, LPS, and LPS/CS), which participated mainly in the adjustment of immune response and the regulation of cell proliferation and death. Genes regulated uniquely by CS treatment were significantly involved in the regulation of focal adhesion pathway, ECM-receptor interaction pathway, and hematopoietic cell lineage pathway. Unique LPS regulated genes were significantly involved in the regulation of Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, systemic lupus erythematosus pathway, and complement and coagulation cascades pathway. Unique LPS/CS regulated genes were significantly involved in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation pathway. These results could provide useful information in further study of the pharmacological mechanisms of CS. This study also demonstrates that with a rigorous experimental design, the biological effects of a complex compound can be reliably studied by a complex system like cDNA microarray.

Induction of apoptosis and inhibition of telomerase activity in human lung carcinoma cells by the water extract of Cordyceps militaris

Cordyceps militaris is well known as a traditional medicinal mushroom and is a potentially interesting candidate for use in cancer treatment. In this study, the potential of the water extract of C. militaris (WECM) to induce apoptosis in human lung carcinoma A549 cells and its effects on telomerase activity were investigated. The growth inhibition and apoptosis induction by WECM treatment in A549 cells was associated with the induction of Fas, catalytic activation of caspase-8, and Bid cleavage. Activation of caspases, downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression, and upregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax protein were also observed in WECM-treated cells. However, the cytotoxic effects and apoptotic characteristics induced by WECM were significantly inhibited by z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 inhibitor, which demonstrates the important role that caspase-3 plays in the process. In addition, WECM exerted a dose-dependent inhibition of telomerase activity via downregulation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), c-myc and Sp1 expression. Taken together, the data from this study indicate that WECM induces the apoptosis of A549 cells through a signaling cascade of death receptor-mediated extrinsic and mitochondria-mediated intrinsic caspase pathways. It was also conclude that apoptotic events due to WECM were mediated with diminished telomerase activity through the inhibition of hTERT transcriptional activity.