The Effect Of Cordyceps Sinensis Alcohol Extactive On Experimental Viral Myocarditis And Its Mechanisms

Background and objective Viral myocarditis (VMC) is a common disease, but there is no satisfactory treatment. Cordyceps sinensis is a precious herbal medicine with the capability of adjust immunity, remove free radicals and inhibit viral replication. In this study, we investigated the effect of cordyceps sinensis alcohol extractive (CASE) on acute VMC mouse model and its possible mechanisms.Methods 100 male adult BALB/c mice were assigned randomly to control group (CG),infectious group (IG) and CSAE intervention group (CIG), each consisting of 20,40,40 respctively. Acute VMC model was made in IG and CIG mice with CVB3 intraperitoneal inoculation. Mice in these two groups were killed in batch 7 days or 14 days after viral inoculation. Serum IFN- Y was examined with ELISA, CD3+,CD4+,CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ in the spleen was determined with FACS, SOD and MDA inmyocardium were examined, iNOS in heart was examined immunoch-emically. Histological changes were determined microscopically. HW/BW ratios and survival rates were calculated.Results (1) Myocardial necrosis semiquantity score and HW/BW ratio in CIG were lower and serum IFN-γ(569.85±218.79pg/ml vs 283.17 ±112.35pg/ml,p<0.01), SOD activity in myocardium (54.73 ±6.13NU/ mgprot vs 40.35 ±5.32NU/mgprot,p<0.01) , iNOS density in heart (0.274 ±0.025 vs 0.196±0.017,p<0.01) were higher, and MDA in myocardium (5.27±1.15nmol/mgprot vs 6.48 ± 1.12nmol/mgprot) was lower than that in IG 7 days after viral inoculation. There were no differences in CD3+,CD4+, CD8+,CD4+/CD8+ between CIG and CG, But CD3+,CD8+ were higher and CD4+/CD8+ was lower in CIG than that in IG. (2) Survival rate was significantly higher in CIG (85%) than that in IG (55%,p<0.01). Myocardial injury was milder and serum IFN-Y, SOD in myocardium were higher (p<0.01) in CIG than that in IG,and MDA in myocardium was lower. There were no differences in CD4+/CD8+ and iNOS in heart between CIG and IG 14 days after viral inoculation.Conclusions CSAE has significant protection on acute VMC,and its possible mechanisms include induction of IFN-γ production and adjustment of cell immunity; increase of the activity of anti-oxidase, reduction of injury of myocardium by lipoperoxidation ; Induction of expression of iNOS in heart and increase of NO production, inhibition of viral replication.