Evaluation of the biological activity of Cordyceps militaris as an antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory agent for natural healthcare

Abstract

Abstract This study presents the bioactive compounds and the antioxidant, anti-bacteria, and anti-inflammatory activities of C. militaris fruiting body (FB) and fruiting body with substrate (FBS). C. militaris FB and FBS were extracted using water, ethanol, and methanol solvents. The chemical composition analysis of C. militaris extract shows bioactive compounds including adenosine, cordycepin, carotenoids, phenolics and flavonoids correlated with antioxidant activity in 2.153–5.105 mg GAE/g extract. Moreover, the ethanolic and methanolic extracts of C. militaris, and the bioactive compounds cordycepin and carotenoids, exhibited the greatest bactericidal activity against all enteric pathogenic bacteria; Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella Typhi, Vibrio cholerae and Bacillus cereus. In addition, C. militaris extracts and bioactive compounds are confirmed as new agents to prevent the adhesion and invasion of enteric pathogenic bacteria on Caco-2 colon cells. This finding demonstrates the anti-inflammatory activity found in the aqueous extract of C. militaris and bioactive compounds on the LPS-stimulated Caco-2 cell model, which had the efficacy to suppress inflammatory moderators including iNos, Cox-2, NF-κB, TNF-α, AP-1, TLR-4, IL-1ß and IL-6. C. militaris extract and its bioactive compounds cordycepin and carotenoids impede the adhesion and invasion of enteric pathogenic bacteria on colonic epithelial cells, and also promote anti-inflammation mechanisms. This study attests to C. militaris as an alternative therapeutic agent to prevent enteric pathogenic bacterial infection and inflammation due to its proven health benefits and high level of antioxidants.