Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE), in vitro antioxidant, and in vivo renal protective effects of polysaccharides from spores of Cordyceps cicadae (CCSPs). The optimal ATPE parameters were as follows: an extraction temperature of 61 °C, an ammonium sulfate concentration of 18%, an ethanol concentration of 40%, a liquid-to-material ratio of 33 mL/g, and an extraction time of 60 min. Under these parameters, the CCSPs yield was 6.96 ± 0.11% (n = 3), which was consistent with the predicted yield (6.92%). Among the three purified polysaccharide fractions, CCSP-2 displayed stronger scavenging activities against DPPH radicals and hydroxyl radicals, reducing power and ferrous-ion-chelating ability to a greater extent than CCSP-1 and CCSP-3. CCSP-2 exhibited its protective effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic acute kidney injury (AKI) mice by significantly alleviating renal edema; reducing 24 h urine protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr); inhibiting the release of serum proinflammatory cytokines; boosting the activities of antioxidant enzymes; and reducing the levels of oxidative damage products. These results suggest that CCSP-2 exerted its protective effect against LPS-induced septic AKI in mice through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pathways.
Highlights
Cordyceps cicadae is a well-known traditional edible and medicinal fungus
Earlier research has focused almost exclusively on polysaccharides derived from the coremium and mycelium rather than from spores; it is assumed that the pharmaceutical activity of the spores might be higher than those of the mycelium and coremium [12]
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl group (PCG), serum creatinine (SCr), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and urine protein quantitative kits were acquired from Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute (Nanjing, China)
Summary
Cordyceps cicadae is a well-known traditional edible and medicinal fungus. It possesses chemical constituents and pharmacological effects similar to C. sinensis and C. militaris, and is expected to be an alternative source of Cordyceps [1,2,3]. Polysaccharides are the most attractive bioactive compounds derived from C. cicadae. Researchers have shown an increased interest in polysaccharides from C. cicadae due to their broad pharmacological activities, including their antioxidant [4], anti-inflammatory [5], immunomodulatory [6,7], antidiabetic [8], antibacterial [9], neuroprotective [10], and nephroprotective [11] activities.
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