Anti-HCV activity of the Chinese medicinal fungus Cordyceps militaris.

Abstract

Persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes chronic liver diseases and is a global health problem. Although the sustained virologic response rate in the treatment of genotype 1 using new triple therapy (pegylated-interferon, ribavirin, and telaprevir/boceprevir) has been improved by more than 70%, several severe side effects such as skin rash/ageusia and advanced anemia have become a problem. Under these circumstances, a new type of anti-HCV oral drug with few side effects is needed. Our recently developed HCV drug assay systems, including the HuH-7 cell line-derived OR6 and AH1R, and the Li23 cell line-derived ORL8 and ORL11, allow genome-length HCV RNAs (several strains of genotype 1b) encoding renilla luciferase to replicate efficiently. Using these systems as anti-HCV candidates, we have identified numerous existing medicines that can be used against HCV with few side effects, such as statins and teprenon. To obtain additional anti-HCV candidates, we evaluated a number of oral health supplements, and found that the capsule but not the liquid form of Cordyceps militaris (CM) (Ascomycotinanorth, North Chinese caterpillar fungus), which is used as a Chinese herbal medicine, exhibited moderate anti-HCV activity. In combination with interferon-α or ribavirin, CM exhibited an additive inhibitory effect. Among the main components of CM, cordycepin, but not ergosterol, contributed to the anti-HCV activity of CM. In consideration of all these results, we suggest that CM would be useful as an oral anti-HCV agent in combination with interferon-α and/or ribavirin.

• Authors: Youki Ueda, Kyoko Mori, Shinya Satoh, Hiromichi Dansako, Masanori Ikeda, Nobuyuki Kato
• Journal: Biochemical and biophysical research communications (Biochem Biophys Res Commun) Vol. 447 Issue 2 Pg. 341-5 (May 02 2014) ISSN: 1090-2104 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24726408 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Deoxyadenosines
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Interferon-alpha
• RNA, Viral
• Ribavirin
• cordycepin
• Ergosterol

Topics

• Antiviral Agents (pharmacology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cordyceps (chemistry)
• Deoxyadenosines (pharmacology)
• Dietary Supplements
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (pharmacology)
• Ergosterol (pharmacology)
• Fungal Capsules
• Hepacivirus (drug effects)
• Humans
• Interferon-alpha (pharmacology)
• Oral Health
• RNA, Viral (biosynthesis)
• Ribavirin (pharmacology)
• Virus Replication (drug effects)