CORDYCEPS SINENSIS AS AN IMMUNOMODULATORY AGENT

Effects of various fractions of methanol extracts from fruiting bodies of Cordyceps sinensis on the lymphoproliferative response, natural ki ller (NK) cell activity, and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated inter leukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production on human mononuclear cells (HMNC) were studied. Two of the 15 column fractions (CS-36-39 and CS-48-51) significantly inhibited the blastoge nesis response (IC50 = 71.0 +/- 3.0 and 21.7 +/- 2.0 mu g/ml, respecti vely), NK cell activity (IC50 = 25.0 +/- 2.5 and 12.9 +/- 5.8 mu g/ml, respectively) and IL-2 production of HMNC stimulated by PHA (IC50 = 9 .6 +/- 2.3 and 5.5 +/- 1.6 mu g/ml, respectively). TNF-alpha productio n in HMNC cultures was also blocked by CS-36-39 and CS-48-51 (IC50 = 2 .7 +/- 1.0 and 12.5 +/- 3.8 mu g/ml, respectively). These results indi cated that neither CS-36-39 nor CS-48-51 was cytotoxic on HMNC, and th at immunosuppressive ingredients are contained in Cordyceps sinensis.