Antithrombotic and Antiplatelet Effects of Cordyceps militaris

Abstract

Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi and is well known as one of the important medical fungi in Chinese, Korea, and other Asian countries, because of its various beneficial effects on human health. The pharmacological activities of Cordyceps extract are mainly focused on anti-cancer, anti-metastatic, and immune modulating effects. In the present study, we investigated whether the antiplatelet effect of ethanol extract of cultured Cordyceps militaris (CMEE) with FeCl₃-induced arterial thrombosis model. We observed that CMEE exhibited a significant inhibitory effect against ADP and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. However, there were no significant differences in prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). These results suggest that antithrombotic activity of CMEE is related to antiplatelet effect rather than anticoagulation effect, and CMEE may be a positive effect on improving blood circulation against vessel injury and occlusion.

Keywords: Cordyceps militaris; Ginkgo biloba extract; antiplatelet; antithrombotic; cordycepin.

Figure 1.

Natural (A) and cultivated (B) C. militaris.

Figure 2.

In vivo antithrombotic effect of C. militaris ethanol extract (CMEE). Data are expressed as the mean ± SE (n = 8). **p < 0.01 compared with the control.

Figure 3.

Ex vivo antiplatelet effect of C. militaris ethanol extract (CMEE). (A) ADP-induced platelet aggregation and (B) Collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Data are expressed as the mean ± SE (n = 8). *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 compared with the control.

Figure 4.

Ex vivo anticoagulation effect of C. militaris ethanol extract (CMEE). (A) Prothrombin time (PT) and (B) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Data are expressed as the mean ± SE (n = 8).