Cardiovascular Protection and Antioxidant Activity of the Extracts from the Mycelia of Cordyceps Sinensis Act Partially Via Adenosine Receptors

Abstract

Mycelia of cultured Cordyceps sinensis (CS) is one of the most common substitutes for natural CS and was approved for arrhythmia in China. However, the role of CS in ameliorating injury during ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is still unclear. We examined effects of extracts from CS on I/R and investigated the possible mechanisms. Post-ischemic coronary perfusion pressure, ventricular function, and coronary flow were measured using the Langendorff mouse heart model. Oxidative stress of cardiac homogenates was performed using an ELISA. Our results indicate that CS affords cardioprotection possibly through enhanced adenosine receptor activation. Cardioprotection was demonstrated by reduced post-ischemic diastolic dysfunction and improved recovery of pressure development and coronary flow. Treatment with CS largely abrogates oxidative stress and damage in glucose- or pyruvate-perfused hearts. Importantly, observed reductions in oxidative stress [glutathione disulfide (GSSG)]/[GSSG + glutathione] and [malondialdehyde (MDA)]/[superoxide dismutase + MDA] ratios as well as the resultant damage upon CS treatment correlate with functional markers of post-ischemic myocardial outcome. These effects of CS were partially blocked by 8-ρ-sulfophenyltheophylline, an adenosine receptor antagonist. Our results demonstrate a suppressive role of CS in ischemic contracture. Meanwhile, the results also suggest pre-ischemic adenosine receptor activation may be involved in reducing contracture in hearts pretreated with CS.

The Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Apoptotic Activities of the Bauhinia Championii Flavone are Connected with Protection Against Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

“…As one of the end-products in the lipid peroxidation process, MDA has been used to evaluate the severity of oxygen-derived free radical-mediated injuries [18]. On the other hand, the body has an endogenous antioxidant system, which is composed of various antioxidant enzymes, to defend against the potential deleterious consequences of ROS and to protect against various forms of peroxidative injuries [19]. It is commonly accepted that SOD and GSH-Px are two dominant anti-oxidative enzymes.…”

Management of Cardiorenal Metabolic Syndrome in Diabetes Mellitus: A Phytotherapeutic Perspective

“…Further study has shown that Cordyceps sinensis affords cardioprotection by reduced postischemic diastolic dysfunction and improved recovery of pressure development and coronary flow. Moreover, this study has also suggested that preischemic adenosine receptor activation may be involved in reducing contracture in hearts pretreated with Cordyceps sinensis [99]. …”

Cordyceps sinensis protects against liver and heart injuries in a rat model of chronic kidney disease: a metabolomic analysis

“…As we reported previously, the renoprotective efficacy of C sinensis was confirmed by its ameliorating metabolic abnor-www.nature.com/aps Liu X et al Acta Pharmacologica Sinica npg malities in the kidneys of rats with CKD [9] . Additionally, C sinensis has also been identified to play significant roles in the protection of liver [10] and heart [11,12] tissue from pathological impairments; thus, we hypothesized that C sinensis could also improve the metabolic function of the extrarenal organs, such as the heart and liver, to achieve its therapeutic effects on the kidney.…”