Acute Lung Inflammation Prevention Efficacy of Cordyceps Militaris Extract

Objectives: This study investigates the preventive effects of Cordyceps militaris extract on acute lung inflammation in a mouse model of LPS-induced acute lung inflammation.Methods: Mice with acute lung inflammation were compared to a normal control group (Normal). A positive control group received dexamethasone (Dex), and groups receiving CME100, CME250, and CME500 were orally administered Cordyceps militaris extract once daily for 7 days. Except for the normal control group, all mice were injected with LPS to induce acute lung inflammation, and one day after LPS administration, the mice were sacrificed for analysis of blood inflammatory factors, inflammation-related proteins in lung tissue, and inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue.Results: Mice with acute lung inflammation had significantly higher serum IgA, nitric oxide, and IFN γ levels compared to normal mice. The positive control group and the Cordyceps militaris extract group showed a significant decrease in these levels, and the CME500 group also exhibited a significant decrease. Lung tissue analysis revealed that the expression of the inflammation-inducing protein and the protein forming the inflammasome decreased, while the expression of the IL-10 protein, which exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, increased. A decrease in inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue was also observed.Conclusions: Cordyceps militaris extract demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissues and suppression of protein expression related to inflammatory responses, thereby mitigating LPS-induced inflammation and tissue damage. These findings suggest that Cordyceps militaris extract is effective in preventing and alleviating acute lung inflammation.