Nutr Res Pract.  2014 Apr;8(2):172-176.

Cordyceps militaris alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in ob/ob mice

• Choi HN
• Jang YH
• Kim MJ
• Seo MJ
• Kang BW
• Jeong YK
• Kim JI

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming an important public health problem as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes have become epidemic. In this study we investigated the protective effect of Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) against NAFLD in an obese mouse model.
MATERIALS/METHODS
Four-week-old male ob/ob mice were fed an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing 1% C. militaris water extract for 10 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Serum glucose, insulin, free fatty acid (FFA), alanine transaminase (ALT), and proinflammatory cytokines were measured. Hepatic levels of lipids, glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxide were determined.
RESULTS
Consumption of C. militaris significantly decreased serum glucose, as well as homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), in ob/ob mice. In addition to lowering serum FFA levels, C. militaris also significantly decreased hepatic total lipids and triglyceride contents. Serum ALT activities and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were reduced by C. militaris. Consumption of C. militaris increased hepatic GSH and reduced lipid peroxide levels.
CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that C. militaris can exert protective effects against development of NAFLD, partly by reducing inflammatory cytokines and improving hepatic antioxidant status in ob/ob mice.

Keyword

Cordyceps militaris; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); triglyceride; antioxidant; ob/ob mice

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase
Animals
Blood Glucose
Cordyceps*
Cytokines
Diet
Fatty Liver*
Glutathione
Homeostasis
Humans
Insulin
Insulin Resistance
Interleukin-6
Male
Mice*
Mice, Obese
Public Health
Triglycerides
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Water
Alanine Transaminase
Cytokines
Glutathione
Insulin
Interleukin-6
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Water

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Serum levels of TNF-α (A), IL-6 (B), and MCP-1 (C) in ob/ob mice. Values represent mean ± SEM (n = 8). *P < 0.05. nsNot significant.

• 

  Fig. 2 Hepatic levels of TBARS (A) and GSH (B) in ob/ob mice. Values represent mean ± SEM (n = 8). *P < 0.05.

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