Abstract
Cordyceps (CS) is used as an alternative medicine and functional food. We examined in vivo mechanisms underlying the antifatigue effects of the cultured mycelium extract of CS (CS extract) in forced swimming mice, a fatigue model that is induced by muscle exercise. Animals orally administered with CS extract significantly extended the loaded forced-swimming time, indicating its antifatigue effects. CS extract modulated the increased levels of blood IL-6 that was induced by forced swimming. CS extract protected the forced swimming-induced increase in NKp46 expression of splenic NK cells, suggesting regulation of fatigue-elicited hyper-reactivity by activated NK cells. By DNA microarray analysis of the quadriceps femoris muscle, it was uncovered that CS extract prevented the forced swimming-mediated upregulation of the expression of 5 genes associating with muscular inflammation (Ccl6, Ccl8, and Wfdc17) and muscle regeneration (Sfrp4 and Nfil3), whereas it regulated the downregulation in the expression of Svs5 participating in actin binding. CS extract exhibits the antifatigue effects through preventing IL-6 accumulation in blood, regulating NK cell activation in the spleen, and alleviating altered expression of genes related to inflammation, regeneration, and actin binding in the local muscle. Thus, CS extract is an effective functional food for preventing fatigue.
Highlights
Fatigue, which is a complex phenomenon of decreased efficiency following continuous work or exercise, may be divided into mental and physical fatigue [1]
The current study provides invaluable information about the unique mechanisms underlying the antifatigue actions of the CS extract that involve preventing interleukin (IL)-6 accumulation in the blood, alleviating NK cell activation in the spleen, and modulating the changes in the expression of several genes in local muscle
The increment rates of the low- and highdose groups showed slight (16.6% for SM-CS120) and significant (57.2% for SM-CS400) increases, respectively, compared to the SM-CS0 group. These results showed that the CS extract potentiated the forced swimming ability in mice, suggesting an antifatigue effect of the CS extract
Summary
Fatigue, which is a complex phenomenon of decreased efficiency following continuous work or exercise, may be divided into mental and physical fatigue [1]. It mainly manifests as a physical decrease in muscle tone and exercise tolerance due to an accumulation of metabolites [2] [3]. Because treatments for fatigue in modern medicine are limited, the antifatigue effects of potential alternatives, including traditional herbs or medicinal or functional foods that prevent diseases and promote health, have been investigated [4] [5]. CS culture products have been used as functional foods [13]-[15]
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