In a previous study performed by our group, we demonstrated that the water extract of Cordyceps sinensis (WECS) significantly prevented tumor metastasis from the spleen to the liver, using B16-F0 mouse melanoma cells as a model. In this study, we investigated the anti-metastatic activity of cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine), one of the components of WECS, using an identical model of mice injected with B16-F0 cells into the spleen. All mice inoculated with B16-F0 cells died due to liver metastases via the portal vein from the spleen. Control mice not administered cordycepin exhibited higher serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) due to damage to the liver by metastasized B16-F0 cells from the spleen, and survival times ranged from 17 to 22 days after tumor inoculation. Cordycepin was intraperitoneally administered to mice, and resulted in significantly lower serum ALT levels and longer survival times than those observed in control mice. Taken together, these results indicate that cordycepin may be the active ingredient in C. sinensis exerting an anti-metastatic effect, and may be a potential candidate anti-metastatic agent.
Keywords: B16-F0 mouse melanoma cell; Cordycepin; alanine aminotransferase (ALT); hepatic metastasis; survival.