Anti-stress and muscular endurance effects of natural specimens and laboratory cultured mycelia of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung on rats and mice

Abstract

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung. is an entomogenous fungus, used as physical performance enhancer and herbal medicine for preventing or curing a number of human ailments. Owing to its high medicinal value and expensive market price, the present study was aimed to determine the anti-stress and muscular endurance effects of natural and laboratory cultured O. sinensis in animals. The natural specimens collected from 4000 – 5000 m altitude of Central Himalayan hills as well as the lab cultured mycelium were tested for anti-stress activity in rats and muscular endurance effect in mice with the help of Force Swim Test. Three doses (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg body wt.) of natural specimens and lab cultured O. sinensis were administered in test groups and Imipramine (15 mg/kg body wt.) in positive control group and 0.9 % NaCl solution in control group for 30 days.
Natural specimens (100, 300 and 500 mg) and lab cultured (300 and 500 mg) of O. sinensis showed anti-stress and muscular endurance effects significantly (p<0.05) following oral administration. Natural specimens and lab cultured O. sinensis at doses of 300 and 500 mg/kg significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the increase in LDH, cholesterol and BUN and decrease in ALP level of immobilized stress rats. Thus, both natural and lab cultured O. sinensis have almost equal anti-stress and muscular endurance effect.