Cordyceps sinensis as an immunomodulatory agent.
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.
Kuo
Y C
YC
National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tsai
W J
WJ
Shiao
M S
MS
Chen
C F
CF
Lin
C Y
CY
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*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha