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The effect of cordycepin purified from Cordyceps militaris on macrophage activation was investigated inperitoneal macrophages isolated from C57BL6 mice. Lipopolysaccharide-induced mouse peritoneal cells showed thatcordycepin treatment increased the expression of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-12, and tumor necrosisfactor-α (TNF-α), leading to early inflammation-mediated reactions, the activation of immunological responses, and Tlymphocyte activation. T lymphocytes, activated by a greater production of IL-6, resulted in antibody-generating immunereactions, suggesting that cordycepin was effective at inducing immunological responses. Consistent with the increase inthe inflammation-mediating factors including nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the toxic response ofmacrophages was activated and effectively induced inflammation. These findings demonstrate that cordycepin is involvedin reducing cell injury provoked by inflammatory reactions. Therefore, these results suggest that cordycepin treatment ofmouse peritoneal cells induces inflammation-mediated immunological responses and immunostimulation.
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