Three previously undescribed metabolites from Cordyceps cicadae JXCH-1,an entomopathogenic fungus

Three previously undescribed compounds,cordycicadione(1),cordycicadin F(2),and 7-hydroxybassiatin(3),were isolated from the cultures of Cordyceps cicadae JXCH1,an entomopathogenic fungus.Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated primarily by NMR spectroscopic analysis.The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by ECD calculations.Single-crystal X-ray diffraction method was adopted to determine the absolute configuration of 3.Compound 2 is a polycyclic polyketide with an unusual enol ether moiety and a spiro ring.The compounds obtained in this study were subjected to screening their inhibition against the proliferation of the human lung cancer cell line A549 and the production of nitric oxide in murine macrophages RAW264.7.

Protective Effect and Mechanism of Polysaccharides from Cordyceps cicadae on Acute Liver Injury Induced by D-GlaN in Mice

[Objectives]To observe the protective effect of Cordyceps cicadae polysaccharides on acute liver injury induced by D-galactosamine( D-GlaN) in mice,and to explore its mechanism. [Methods] Seventy-five male Kunming mice were randomly and evenly divided into 5 groups according to the digital table method: normal group( CK)( injected intraperitoneally with saline solution),model group( injected intraperitoneally with D-GlaN),low-dose C. cicadae polysaccharides group( administered with 0. 5 g/kg of C. cicadae polysaccharides solution by gavage),middle-dose C. cicadae polysaccharides group( administered with 1. 0 g/kg of C. cicadae polysaccharides solution by gavage) and high-dose C. cicadae polysaccharides group( administered with 2. 0 g/kg of C. cicadae polysaccharides solution by gavage). After 12 d of administration,the liver histopathological score,liver homogenate indexes( superoxide dismutase,SOD; malondialdehyde,MDA; glutathione peroxidase,GSH-Px; nitric oxide,NO) and serum markers( aspartate transaminase,AST; alanine transaminase,ALT; alkaline phosphatase,ALP; cholinesterase,CHE) of mice in each group were detected. The expression levels of nuclear factor-κB( NF-κB) and tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) in liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. [Results]The liver histopathological score and the MDA,NO,AST,ALT,ALP,NF-κB and TNF-α levels were significantly higher( P < 0. 05) and the SOD,GSH-Px and CHE levels were significantly lower( P <0. 05) in the model group compared with the normal group. Compared with those in the model group,the liver tissue histopathological scores in the low-,middle-and high-dose C. cicadae polysaccharides groups were all significantly reduced( P < 0. 05). With the increase of treatment dose,the liver tissue histopathological scores showed a significant decrease( P < 0. 05). Compared with the model group,the levels of MDA,NO,AST,ALT,ALP,NF-κB and TNF-α were significantly lower( P < 0. 05),and the levels of SOD,GSH-Px and CHE were significantly higher( P < 0. 05) in the low-,middle-and high-dose C. cicadae polysaccharides groups. With the increase of treatment dose,the levels of MDA,NO,AST,ALT,ALP,NF-κB and TNF-α declined significantly( P < 0. 05),while the levels of SOD,GSH-Px and CHE rose significantly( P < 0. 05). [Conclusions] C. cicadae polysaccharides have a significant protective effect on D-GlaN-induced acute liver injury in mice in a dose-dependent manner,and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway.

Cordyceps cicadae extracts ameliorate renal malfunction in a remnant kidney model

Background and Objectives:Chronic kidney disease(CKD) is a growing public health problem with an urgent need for new pharmacological agents.Cordyceps cicadae is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and has potential renoprotective benefits.The current study aimed to determine any scientific evidence to support its clinical use.Methods:We analyzed the potential of two kinds of C.cicadae extract,total extract(TE) and acetic ether extract(AE),in treating kidney disease simulated by a subtotal nephrectomy(SNx) model.Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into seven groups:sham-operated group,vehicle-treated SNx,Cozaar,2 g/(kg·d) TE SNx,1 g/(kg·d) TE SNx,92 mg/(kg·d) AE SNx,and 46 mg/(kg·d) AE SNx.Renal injury was monitored using urine and serum analyses,and hematoxylin and eosin(HE) and periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) stainings were used to analyze the level of fibrosis.The expression of type IV collagen(Col IV),fibronectin(FN),transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),and connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:Renal injury,reflected in urine and serum analyses,and pathological changes induced by SNx were attenuated by TE and AE intervention.The depositions of Col IV and FN were also decreased by the treatments and were accompanied by reduced expression of TGF-β1 and CTGF.In some respects,2 g/(kg·d) of TE produced better effects than Cozaar.Conclusions:For the first time,we have shown that C.cicadae may inhibit renal fibrosis in vivo through the TGF-β1/CTGF pathway.Therefore,we conclude that the use of C.cicadae could provide a rational strategy for combating renal fibrosis.

Chemical Constituents from Mycelia and Spores of Fungus Cordyceps cicadae

Objective To isolate and identify the chemical constituents from mycelia and spores of the fungus Cordyceps cicadae,respectively.Methods The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by repeated silica gel,Sephadex LH-20,and reversed phase HPLC.The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis,including 1 D and 2D NMR.Results Nine known sterols such as ergosterol（1）,ergosterol peroxide（2）,9,11-dehydroergosterol peroxide（3）,3β,5α,9α-trihydroxy-（22E,24R）-ergosta-7,22-dien-6-one（4）,3β,5α,9α,14α-tetrahydroxy-（22E,24R）-ergosta-7,22-dien-6-one（5）,5 α,6α-e poxy-（22 E,,24 R）-e rgosta-8（14）,22-diene-3α,7α-diol （6）, 3β,5α,6β-（22E,24R）-ergosta-7,22-dien-3,5,6-triol （7）, 3β,5α,6α-6- methoxyergosta-（22E,24R）-7,22-diene-3,5-diol （8）, 4-hydroxy-17R-methylincisterol （9）, together with a resorcinol derivative, 5-n-nonadecylresorcinol （10）, a cydo- desipeptide, beauvericin （11）, and a nucleoside, N^6-（2-hydroxyethyl）adenosine （12） were successively isolated from the cultivated C. cicadaemycelia and spores. Conclusion Compounds 3-10 are reported for the first time from the title sample, beauvericin exhibits significant cytotoxicity against human leukemia cell line and human lung cancer cell line.