• • AUGUST 19, 2019

  Cordyceps an immunosuppressive drug 冬虫夏草的免疫抑制作用

  Immunosuppressive drugs are applied to control autoimmune disorders and inflammation when excessive tissue damage occurs, as well as to prevent transplant rejection after an organ transplant. Increasing evidence shows that cordyceps is a bidirectional modulator with both potentiating and suppressive effects on the immune system through regulating innate and adaptive immunity.  Early oral administration of C. sinensis (2.4 mg/g/day) induced the redistribution of HPBMC with reduced percentages of CD4+ T cells. Mycelia of C. sinensis water extract plus subtherapeutic cyclosporin A also decreased acute rejection in rats that had undergone heart transplant, completely ablated acute vasculopathy in mice at the dose of 50 mg/kg, and decreased IFN-γ release from mouse splenocytes and CD8+ T cells at 3.4 mg/mL in vitro. The administration of C. pruinosa methanol extract inhibited the production of IL-β, TNF-α, NO, and PGE2 in LPS-stimulated macrophages at 10 μg/mL in vitro and LPS-administered mice at 5 mg/kg in vivo via the suppression of NF-κB activation. Methanol extract of caterpillars, but not fruiting bodies, of C. cicadae resulted in the suppression of proliferation of PHA-induced HPBMC and the lowering of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IFN-γ, and IL-12 release from PHA-stimulated HPBMC. So, different parts of cordyceps have different effects on immune response.

  

  Reference:

  • Feng K, Yang Y. Q, Li S. P. Renggongchongcao. In: Li S. P, Wang Y. T, editors. Pharmacological Activity-Based Quality Control of Chinese Herbs. New York: Nova Science Publisher, Inc.; 2008. pp. 155–78.
  • Li S. P, Tsim K. W. The biological and pharmacological properties of Cordyceps sinensis, a traditional Chinese medicine that has broad clinical applications. In: Herbal and Traditional Medicine. New York: Marcel Dekker; 2004. pp. 657–82.
  • Ng T. B, Wang H. X. Pharmacological actions of Cordyceps, a prized folk medicine. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2005;57:1509–19.
  • Zhou X, Gong Z, Su Y, Lin J, Tang K. Cordyceps fungi: Natural products, pharmacological functions and developmental products. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2009a;61:279–91.
  • Bao-qin Lin and Shao-ping Li. edited. Chapter 5. Cordyceps as an Herbal Drug. in Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition.

  • Skin Matters

By Tony Tang Yuqi

Physician Tony Tang Yuqi leads Tangs Clinical TCM with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Holding esteemed qualifications such as an MSc in Clinical Research from Edinburgh and an MBA from Singapore, alongside a Diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine and registration as a TCM Physician in Singapore. He believes in a compassionate and holistic approach to healthcare, especially when it comes to TCM treatment for eczema, providing comprehensive patient care.