Cordyceps militaris Enhances Cell-Mediated Immunity in Healthy Korean Men.
Cordyceps militaris is a mushroom traditionally used for diverse pharmaceutical purposes in East Asia, including China, and has been found to be effective for enhancing immunity through various types of animal testing. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of C. militaris for enhancing cell-mediated immunity and its safety in healthy male adults. Healthy male adults were divided into the experimental group (n = 39), given 1.5 g/day of ethanol treated C. militaris in capsules, and the control group (n = 40), given the same number of identical placebo capsules filled with microcrystalline cellulose and lactose for 4 weeks from February 13 to March 14, 2012; the natural killer (NK) cell activity, lymphocyte proliferation index (PI), and T-helper cell 1 (Th1) cytokine cluster (interferon [IFN]-γ, interleukin [IL]-12, IL-2, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) were measured, along with stability test, at weeks 0, 2, and 4. The C. militaris group showed a statistically significant greater increase in NK200 (P = .0010), lymphocyte PI (P ≤ .0001), IL-2 (P = .0096), and IFN-γ (P = .0126), compared with the basal level, than the placebo group. There was no statistically significant adverse reaction. C. militaris enhanced the NK cell activity and lymphocyte proliferation and partially increased Th1 cytokine secretion. Therefore, C. militaris is safe and effective for enhancing cell-mediated immunity of healthy male adults.
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital , Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi, Korea.
Ho Joon
HJ
Kang
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital , Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi, Korea.
Hyun Wook
HW
Baik
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital , Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi, Korea.
Sang Jung
SJ
Kim
2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital , Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi, Korea.
Seong Gyu
SG
Lee
3 Department of Statistics, Dongguk University Seoul , Seoul, Korea.
Hong Yup
HY
Ahn
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital , Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi, Korea.
Ju Sang
JS
Park
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital , Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi, Korea.
Sang Jong
SJ
Park
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital , Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi, Korea.
Eun Jeong
EJ
Jang
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital , Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi, Korea.
Sang Woon
SW
Park
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital , Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi, Korea.
Jin Young
JY
Choi
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital , Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi, Korea.
Ji Hee
JH
Sung
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital , Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi, Korea.
Seung Min
SM
Lee
D000328:Adult; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003839:Deoxyadenosines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D056910:Republic of Korea; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D016207:Cytokines; D003839:Deoxyadenosines; D010919:Placebos; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000431:Ethanol; C058120:cordycepin
Cordyceps militaris; cordycepin; immune response