Immune-enhancing activity of C. militaris fermented with Pediococcus pentosaceus (GRC-ON89A)in CY-induced immuno suppressed model

Background: Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris)is reported to exert various immune-activities. To enhanceits activity, we fermented C. militaris with Pediococcus pentosaceus ON89A (GRC-ON89A). In this study, we investigated the immune-enhancing activity GRC-ON89A,using immunosuppressed model.

Methods: Immunosuppression was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CY). Each group was orally administered distilled water, GRC-ON89A or GRC, respectively. The phagocytic activities against IgG -opsonized FITC particles were measured using phagocytosis assay kit. The contents β-glucan, cordycepin and SCFA were measured using β-glucan kit, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, respectively.

Results: Among GRC fermented with different probiotic strains (Pediococcus pentossaceus ON89A, Lactobacillus pentosus SC64, Weissella cibaria Sal.Cla22), GRC-ON89A induced the highest elevation of nitric oxide production and enhanced phagocytic activity of RAW 264.7 cells. In primary cultured murine macrophages from normal and CY-treated mice, GRC-ON89A increased phagocytic activity, compared to that in control cells. GRC-ON89A also significantly induced the mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-10 and the levels of phosphorylated Lyn, Syk and MAPK. The contents of β-glucan, cordycepin and SCFAin GRC significantly increased after ON89A fermentation, compared to those in unfermented GRC.

Conclusion: These results indicate that GRC-ON89A exerted the enhanced immunostimulatory activity and contained more nutritional components, compared to unfermented GRC. Our results suggested that GRC-ON89A may be applied as an agent for immune boosting therapy in immune suppressed patients.

Dr. Dong-Ki Park is currently working at Cell Activation Research Institute, South korea. He published many articles in reputed journals and attended international conferences.