Effects of Cordyceps Polysaccharide on the OVA-induced Airway Inflammation and Hyperresponsiveness in a Murine Asthmatic Model

OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of Cordyceps polysaccharide on the antigen-induced airway eosinophilic inflammation. METHODS Thirty-two female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, asthma model, Cordyceps polysaccharide and Dexamethasone treatment groups. Asthma was induced by OVA administration in the asthma model, Cordyceps polysaccharide and Dexamethasone treatment groups. Cordyceps polysaccharide and Dexamethasone were administered before antigen challenge. After 12 hours of the last challenge, the mice were used to evaluate airway hyperresponsiveness(AHR). After the airway hyperresponsiveness experimentation , mice were killed and Bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected to count the number of eosinophil and to measure the levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13. The lung tissues of inferior lobe of the left lung were obtained for the observation of lung pathological change. RESULTS ① Cordyceps polysaccharide significantly suppressed airway hyperresponsiveness in OVA-induced mice. ② Cordyceps polysaccharide attenuated the airway inflammation in the lung of OVA-induced mice. ③ In Cordyceps polysaccharide treatment groups, increase of eosinophil counts challenged by OVA was decreased in BALF of mice. ④ The increased levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 challenged by OVA in BALF of mice were decreased by Cordyceps polysaccharide treatment. ⑤ The increased expressions of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 mRNA challenged by OVA in lung tissues were also decreased by cordyceps polysaccharide treatment. CONCLUSION Cordyceps polysaccharide efficiently inhibited the eosinophil inflammation in lung tissue and may be of therapeutic value as a novel treatment of asthma.