Yarsagumba is a Promising Therapeutic Option for Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension due to the Potent Anti-Proliferative and Vasorelaxant Properties

Abstract

Background and objectives: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by the vasoconstriction and abnormally proliferative vascular cells. The available allopathic treatment options for PH are still not able to cure the disease. Alternative medicine is becoming popular and drawing the attention of the general public and scientific communities. The entomogenous fungus Yarsagumba (Cordyceps sinensis) and its biologically active ingredient cordycepin may represent the therapeutic option for this incurable disease, owing to their anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory and anti-oxidative effects. Methods: In this study, we investigated whether Yarsagumba extract and cordycepin possess anti-proliferative and vasorelaxant properties in the context of PH, using 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine assay and isolated mice lungs, respectively. Results: Our results revealed that Yarsagumba extract and its bioactive compound cordycepin significantly attenuated the proliferation of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells derived from donor and PH subjects. In isolated murine lungs, only Yarsagumba extract, but not cordycepin, resulted in vasodilatation, indicating the probable existence of other bioactive metabolites present in Yarsagumba that may be responsible for this outcome. Conclusion: Future comprehensive in vivo and in vitro research is crucially needed to discover the profound mechanistic insights with regard to this promising therapeutic potency of Yarsagumba extract and to provide further evidence as to whether it can be used as a strategy for the treatment of PH.

Fermented Cordyceps Powder Attenuates Inflammation and Pulmonary Arterioles Remodeling by Inhibiting p38 MAPK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension Rats

“…Studies have also found that C. sinensis extract and cordycepin could inhibit the proliferation of PASMC isolated from idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension patients. And C. sinensis extract also significantly reversed hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction and reduced mPAP in mice (Luitel et al, 2020). Abbreviations: HPH, hypoxic pulmonary hypertension; FCP, fermented cordyceps powder; LA%, lumen area as a percentage of total vascular area; WA%, vascular wall area as a percentage of total vascular area; WT%, vascular wall thickness as a percentage of vascular outer diameter.…”

Ethnobotany of the Medicinal Plants: Case of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Yarsagumba) and Its Benefits for Nepal, India, and Bhutan

“…As tumor diseases are considered a serious cause of human death all over the world, Yarsagumba is used as an antitumor agent to cure tumors (Zhou et al, 2009). The cordycepin extracted from the Yarsagumba lowers the expansion of the aortic smooth muscle cells by lowering the presence of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinase (Luitel et al, 2020). In addition, research conducted in Sikkim, India shows that the Yarsagumba is also used to quicken corticosteroid production in different animals (Panda and Swain, 2011).…”

Potential of the TRPM7 channel as a novel therapeutic target for pulmonary arterial hypertension

“…Another medicinal mushroom, Ophiocordyceps sinensis (OCS), known as Yarsagumba , has long been used as a folk remedy for altitude sickness, which is usually encountered above 4,000 m sea level ( 77 ). OCS enhances cardiopulmonary function and exerts therapeutic effects on fibrotic lesions and malignant tumors ( 78 , 79 ). Therefore, we examined the therapeutic effects of OCS and FTY-720 on the pathophysiology of PAH ( 45 ).…”