1
|
Radhi M, Ashraf S, Lawrence S, Tranholm AA, Wellham PAD, Hafeez A, Khamis AS, Thomas R, McWilliams D, de Moor CH. A Systematic Review of the Biological Effects of Cordycepin. Molecules 2021; 26:5886. [PMID: 34641429 PMCID: PMC8510467 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26195886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted a systematic review of the literature on the effects of cordycepin on cell survival and proliferation, inflammation, signal transduction and animal models. A total of 1204 publications on cordycepin were found by the cut-off date of 1 February 2021. After application of the exclusion criteria, 791 papers remained. These were read and data on the chosen subjects were extracted. We found 192 papers on the effects of cordycepin on cell survival and proliferation and calculated a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 135 µM. Cordycepin consistently repressed cell migration (26 papers) and cellular inflammation (53 papers). Evaluation of 76 papers on signal transduction indicated consistently reduced PI3K/mTOR/AKT and ERK signalling and activation of AMPK. In contrast, the effects of cordycepin on the p38 and Jun kinases were variable, as were the effects on cell cycle arrest (53 papers), suggesting these are cell-specific responses. The examination of 150 animal studies indicated that purified cordycepin has many potential therapeutic effects, including the reduction of tumour growth (37 papers), repression of pain and inflammation (9 papers), protecting brain function (11 papers), improvement of respiratory and cardiac conditions (8 and 19 papers) and amelioration of metabolic disorders (8 papers). Nearly all these data are consistent with cordycepin mediating its therapeutic effects through activating AMPK, inhibiting PI3K/mTOR/AKT and repressing the inflammatory response. We conclude that cordycepin has excellent potential as a lead for drug development, especially for age-related diseases. In addition, we discuss the remaining issues around the mechanism of action, toxicity and biodistribution of cordycepin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masar Radhi
- Pain Centre Versus Arthritis, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (M.R.); (A.A.T.); (D.M.)
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (S.L.); (P.A.D.W.); (A.H.); (A.S.K.)
| | - Sadaf Ashraf
- Aberdeen Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, Institute of Medical Sciences, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK;
| | - Steven Lawrence
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (S.L.); (P.A.D.W.); (A.H.); (A.S.K.)
| | - Asta Arendt Tranholm
- Pain Centre Versus Arthritis, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (M.R.); (A.A.T.); (D.M.)
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (S.L.); (P.A.D.W.); (A.H.); (A.S.K.)
| | - Peter Arthur David Wellham
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (S.L.); (P.A.D.W.); (A.H.); (A.S.K.)
| | - Abdul Hafeez
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (S.L.); (P.A.D.W.); (A.H.); (A.S.K.)
| | - Ammar Sabah Khamis
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (S.L.); (P.A.D.W.); (A.H.); (A.S.K.)
| | - Robert Thomas
- The Primrose Oncology Unit, Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, Bedford MK42 9DJ, UK;
- Department of Oncology, Addenbrooke’s Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Daniel McWilliams
- Pain Centre Versus Arthritis, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (M.R.); (A.A.T.); (D.M.)
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Cornelia Huiberdina de Moor
- Pain Centre Versus Arthritis, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (M.R.); (A.A.T.); (D.M.)
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (S.L.); (P.A.D.W.); (A.H.); (A.S.K.)
| |
Collapse
|