Determination of Active Components in Cordyceps militaris from Different Sources and Their Impacts on Immune Function of Mice

Purpose:To comparatively analyze active components in Cordyceps militaris from different sources and investigate the effects of Cordyceps militaris from different sources on the immune function of mice.Methods:High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was used to determine the contents of cordycepin and adenosine in four kinds of Cordyceps militaris,and their immune-regulatory effects on mice were evaluated by carbon clearance rate,immune organ indexes and proliferation capacity of spleen lymphocytes.Results:Silkworm chrysalis Cordyceps militaris,wheat Cordyceps militaris,rice Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps capitata contained 3.68,2.86,2.63 and 0.95 mg/g cordycepin,and 1.11,0.79,0.64 and 0.094 mg/g adenosine,respectively.Based on the results of carbon clearance rate,proliferation capacity of spleen lymphocytes and immune organ indexes,all the four kinds of Cordyceps militaris could increase the immune function of mice when compared with the control group.Meanwhile,silkworm chrysalis Cordyceps militaris and wheat Cordyceps militaris were much better in improving the immune function than those from two other sources.Conclusions:The contents of cordycepin and adenosine were significantly different among Cordyceps militaris from different sources,and Cordyceps militaris from silkworm chrysalis and wheat had higher contents of cordycepin and adenosine,and exerted more potent immune-regulatory effects on mice.