Antioxidant activity of the extracts from fruiting bodies of cultured Cordyceps sinensis

Cordyceps sinensis is one of the most valued herbs in traditional Chinese m edicine. We investigated the antioxidant activities of the cultured fruitin g bodies of Cordyceps sinesis, The water and ethanol extracts of Cordyceps sinensis were found to possess a potent antioxidant activity. The scavengin g effects of the extracts on superoxide were very weak, but the extracts mo derately inhibited malondialdehyde formation via hydroxyl radical induced b y SIN-1, a peroxynitrite generator. Of the extracts examined, the hot water extract (70 degreesC for 5 min) showed the greatest oxygen free radical sc avenging activity. Also, when low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was incubated w ith macrophages in the presence of CuCl2 (1 muM), the hot water extract sho wed a strong inhibitory effect against lipid peroxidation in the medium and consequent accumulation of cholesteryl ester in macrophages. Their activit ies were comparable to that of authentic Cu/Zn SOD, These results suggest t hat the extracts of cultured Cordyceps sinensis possess potent antioxidant and anti-lipid peroxidation activities and inhibit accumulation of choleste ryl ester in macrophages via suppression of LDL oxidation, Copyright (C) 20 00 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.