Cordyceps militaris polysaccharides can enhance the immunity and antioxidation activity in immunosuppressed mice

Carbohydr Polym. 2012 Jun 20;89(2):461-6. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.03.029. Epub 2012 Mar 19.

Abstract

To evaluate the immune activation and reactive oxygen species scavenging activity of Cordyceps militaris polysaccharides (CMP) in vivo, 90 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six groups. The mice in the three experimental groups were given cyclophosphamide at 80 mg/kg/d via intraperitoneal injection and 17.5, 35, or 70 mg/kg body weight CMP via gavage. The lymphocyte proliferation, phagocytic index, and biochemical parameters were measured. The results show that the administration of CMP was able to overcome the CY-induced immunosuppression, significantly increased the spleen and thymus indices, and enhanced the spleen lymphocyte activity and macrophage function. CMP can also improve the antioxidation activity in immunosuppressed mice, significantly increase the superoxidase dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase levels and the total antioxidant capacity, and decrease the malondialdehyde levels in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cordyceps*
  • Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology
  • Fruiting Bodies, Fungal
  • Fungal Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / physiology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / physiology
  • Male
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Thymus Gland / drug effects

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Fungal Polysaccharides
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Catalase
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Superoxide Dismutase