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

Abstract

<i>Ophiocordyceps sinensis</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic" lang="EN-GB"> (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 <i>O</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">. <i>sinensis </i>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 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">O. sinensis</i> 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.<br> Natural specimens (100, 300 and 500 mg) and lab cultured (300 and 500 mg) of <i>O</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">. <i>sinensis</i> showed anti-stress and muscular endurance effects significantly (p<0.05) following oral administration. Natural specimens and lab cultured <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">O. sinensis</i> 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 <i>O</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">. <i>sinensis</i> have almost equal anti-stress and muscular endurance effect.

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