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Planta Med 2008; 74(2): 114-119
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1034277
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A Phytochemically Characterized Extract of Cordyceps militaris and Cordycepin Protect Hippocampal Neurons from Ischemic Injury in Gerbils

In Koo Hwang1 [*] , Soon Sung Lim2 [*] , Ki-Yeon Yoo3 , Yeon Sil Lee2 , Ho Gyoung Kim4 , Il-Jun Kang5 , Hyung Joo Kwon6 , Jinseu Park7 , Soo Young Choi7 , Moo-Ho Won3
  • 1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
  • 2Regional Innovation Center, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
  • 3Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Institute of Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
  • 4Mushtech Co. Ltd, Chuncheon, South Korea
  • 5Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
  • 6Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
  • 7Department of Biomedical Sciences, and Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
Further Information

Publication History

Received: April 12, 2007 Revised: April 12, 2007

Accepted: December 3, 2007

Publication Date:
23 January 2008 (online)

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Abstract

In the present study, we investigated effects of the dried, hot-water extract of Cordyceps militaris (CME) and its major metabolite (cordycepin) against ischemic damage. The repeated treatment with CME protected hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons from ischemic damage in gerbils. The treatment with CME or cordycepin in gerbils reduced 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (a marker of lipid peroxidation) immunoreactivity and levels in the ischemic CA1 region. Glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactive astrocytes and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 immunoreactive microglia in the vehicle-treated ischemic group were activated in the CA1 region 4 days after ischemia/reperfusion, whereas in the CME- or cordycepin-treated ischemic group, their activation was significantly decreased. These results suggest that the repeated treatment with CME protects against neuronal damage from ischemia/reperfusion by reducing oxidative damage.

Abbreviations

CME:Cordyceps militaris water extract

CV:cresyl violet

GFAP:glial fibrillary acidic protein

HNE:4-hydroxy-2-nonenal

HPLC:high performance liquid chromatography

Iba-1:ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1

ROD:relative optical density

ROS:reactive oxygen species

Key words

Neuroprotection - ischemia - pyramidal neurons - hippocampus - Cordyceps militaris - cordycepin - fungus

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1 In Koo Hwang and Soon Sung Lim contributed equally to this article

Prof. Moo-Ho Won

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology

College of Medicine

Hallym University

Chuncheon 200-702

South Korea

Phone: +82-33-248-2522

Fax: +82-33-256-1614

Email: mhwon@hallym.ac.kr