Abstract:
Cordyceps is one of the important medical mushrooms in Asian countries, due to its various beneficial effects on human health. The pharmacological activities of Cordyceps extract are mainly focused on anticancer, antimetastatic and immune modulating effects. An in vivo study was performed in rats to experimentally demonstrate the acute toxicity and wound healing activity of Cordyceps militaris aqueous extract. Acute toxicity was evaluated in Swiss albino mice at a single dose of 5000 mg/Kg body weight. In addition, biochemical analyses to investigate the main toxic effects on tissues and in particular on the liver and kidneys were performed on blood samples taken from all animals just before sacrifice. Thus, the brain, liver and kidneys were collected after sacrifice for microscopic observations and histological analyses. Before starting topical application, a formulation of Cordyceps militaris ointment was applied to the skin of rats for skin irritation test. Open excision wounds of 2 cm2 in diameter were created above the spine. All products were applied topically as an ointment. The parameters studied were the wound surfaces using the direct planimetry method as well as the speed of wound contraction. The application of the cream was performed every day and measurements were taken every 3 days for 21 days. The results show that the aqueous extract of Cordyceps militaris does not induce any toxic effects and no signs of mortality or coma. Also, histopathological examinations of the organs did not reveal any negative pathological changes compared to the control organs. Cordyceps militaris ointment applied to the skin showed no signs of inflammation (erythema or edema) on the back of the rats. The results of the healing activity showed a healing observed after 21 days of treatment, a percentage of inhibition 97.86% and 98.68%, for Cordyceps militaris 5% and 10% respectively, 97.28% for Madecassol, 82.07% for placebo group, 78.14% for control group. However, the effect showed statistically significant activity compared to the control. Eventually, the results obtained from the application of C. militaris cream show that this extract accelerates healing. It could be that it exerts its activity accelerating the hemostasis, decreasing the inflammatory phase, which favors the acceleration of the re-epithetization phase. The histopathology study on the skin tissue of rats confirms the healing effect of the aqueous extract of Cordyceps militaris.
