title: Cordyceps sinensis as an immunomodulatory agent.
abstract: Effects of various fractions of methanol extracts from fruiting bodies of Cordyceps sinensis on the lymphoproliferative response, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production on human mononuclear cells (HMNC) were studied. Two of the 15 column fractions (CS-36-39 and CS-48-51) significantly inhibited the blastogenesis response (IC50 = 71.0 +/- 3.0 and 21.7 +/- 2.0 micrograms/ml, respectively), NK cell activity (IC50 = 25.0 +/- 2.5 and 12.9 +/- 5.8 micrograms/ml, respectively) and IL-2 production of HMNC stimulated by PHA (IC50 = 9.6 +/- 2.3 and 5.5 +/- 1.6 micrograms/ml, respectively). TNF-alpha production in HMNC cultures was also blocked by CS-36-39 and CS-48-51 (IC50 = 2.7 +/- 1.0 and 12.5 +/- 3.8 micrograms/ml, respectively). These results indicated that neither CS-36-39 nor CS-48-51 was cytotoxic on HMNC, and that immunosuppressive ingredients are contained in Cordyceps sinensis.
authors.affiliation: National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shiao
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013624:Taiwan; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha