Abstract
Hyperlipidemia is involved in serious cardiovascular disease, however, synthetic drugs to reduce lipid contents in blood stream have been found to induce serious side effects. In the current study, we compared anti-oxidant and anti-hyperlipidemic effect of Paecilomyces japonica (PJ), Cordyceps militaris (CM) and cordycepin-rich Cordyceps militaris (CMα) in rats induced alcoholic hyperlipidemia (AIH) and oxidative stress. The experimental groups were divided in N (water), C (30% alcohol), PJ (30% alcohol + 3% PJ powder), CM (30% alcohol + 3% CM powder), CMα (30% alcohol + 3% CMα powder) and SM [30% alcohol + 0.1% silymarin (SM)]. Compared to C group, supplementation of PJ, CM, CMα and SM slightly alleviated the increased weight ratio of liver and kidney in the alcohol-treated rats. In addition, a significant or slight reduction was identified in total lipid, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels in the rats receiving PJ, CM and CMα as compared with C group. Administration of PJ, CM and CMα also blocked alcohol-induced lipid peroxidation via a decrease of malondialdehyde (MDA), and activated anti-oxidant enzyme, glutathione (GSH), in serum and various organ tissues. Overall, cordycepin-rich CMα showed highest anti-oxidant and anti-hyperlipidemia effect under chronic alcoholic damage. Our results indicate that CMα might be useful in inhibiting the oxidation and hyperlipidemia in alcohol-induced hepatic disease possibly because of potential anti-oxidative and anti-hyperlipidemic activities of cordycepin.
Highlights
Hyperlipidemia, known as the condition of abnormally increased lipid in plasma and tissues, is a potential risk factor resulting in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (AlHajri et al 2017)
There was no specific correlation in weight of heart, spleen, testis, perirenal fat and epididymal fat between N, C, Paecilomyces japonica (PJ), Cordyceps militaris (CM) and Cordycepin-rich CM (CMα) group
It is noteworthy that there was no significant difference in serum and liver levels of TG between the SD rats receiving CMα and normal ones (Fig. 1)
Summary
Hyperlipidemia, known as the condition of abnormally increased lipid in plasma and tissues, is a potential risk factor resulting in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (AlHajri et al 2017). Cordycepin, 3-deoxyadenosine, is a derivative of the nucleoside adenosine, and it is abundantly present in Cordyceps species (Ju et al 2009; Zhou et al 2016). Since cordycepin shows chemical similarity to adenosine, it could be involved in the incorporation of RNA molecule causing a broad range of biological activities (Chen et al 2017). Tremendous evidences have reported its anticancer, anti-hypertension, antiliver injury and improving immune response effects (Jing et al 2015; Chen et al 2017). The consumption of Cordyceps species has steadily increased with the expectation of positive effect on chronic diseases
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
