Protective effect of mycelial polysaccharides from Cordyceps sinensis on immunological liver injury in mice

Objective 　To explore the protective effects of mycelial polysaccharides from Cordyceps sinensis (MPCS) on BCG+LPS-induced liver injury in mice. Methods 　The immunological liver injury mice model was reproduced by giving bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Sixty NIH mice were randomly assigned into 6 groups (10 each): normal control group, model group, mycelium polysaccharide in high (100mg/kg), medium (50mg/kg) and low (25mg/kg) dose group, and bifendate (150mg/kg) treatment group. The serum transaminase levels of alanine ALT and AST were assayed with ELISA, nitric oxide (NO) in serum was measured by nitrate reductase method, and the liver homogenate was prepared for the determination of the contents of interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). The mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and iNOS in hepatic tissue were assessed using RT-PCR . Results 　In the mice of immunological liver injury, mycelial polysaccharides from Cordyceps sinensis obviously lowered the serum ALT and AST levels (P<0.01), high dose MPCS significantly reduced the serum NO and liver tissue IL-1βand TNF-αlevels (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, high and medium dose MPCS significantly reduced the expression levels of IL-6 and iNOS mRNA in hepatic tissues (P<0.01). Conclusion 　MPCS shows a certain protective effect on immunological liver injury induced by BCG plus LPS in mice. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2016.04.05