Wild Cordyceps sinensis exhibits far lower arsenic accumulation and hepatorenal in mice compared to equivalent dose of inorganic arsenic
IntroductionWild Cordyceps sinensis (C. sinensis) is a Chinese medicinal material known for its renal and pulmonary benefits. However, inorganic arsenic in wild Cordyceps sinensis may accumulate in the body following prolonged consumption; therefore, rigorous safety evaluations are needed.MethodsThi...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1625045/full |
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| author | Liang Gao Liang Gao Liang Gao Hongxia Yang Hongxia Yang Jinmei Ma Jinmei Ma Hongtao Bi Hongtao Bi Yuancan Xiao Yuancan Xiao Cen Li Cen Li Cen Li Lixin Wei Lixin Wei |
| author_facet | Liang Gao Liang Gao Liang Gao Hongxia Yang Hongxia Yang Jinmei Ma Jinmei Ma Hongtao Bi Hongtao Bi Yuancan Xiao Yuancan Xiao Cen Li Cen Li Cen Li Lixin Wei Lixin Wei |
| author_sort | Liang Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionWild Cordyceps sinensis (C. sinensis) is a Chinese medicinal material known for its renal and pulmonary benefits. However, inorganic arsenic in wild Cordyceps sinensis may accumulate in the body following prolonged consumption; therefore, rigorous safety evaluations are needed.MethodsThis study compared the impacts of wild Cordyceps sinensis at the maximum clinical dose and equivalent doses of inorganic arsenic (16.36 mg/kg) to its total arsenic dose on organ indices, arsenic accumulation, and functional and pathological changes in the liver and kidney in mice, aiming to explore the safety of consuming wild Cordyceps sinensis. Arsenic accumulation in organs was measured via ICP–MS, while serum markers of liver and kidney functions were assessed via ELISA and biochemical assay kits. Histopathology was observed through H&E staining.ResultCompared with those in the control group, no significant adverse effects on body weight, organ indices, arsenic accumulation, liver or kidney function, or liver or kidney pathology were observed in the Cordyceps group. In contrast, inorganic arsenic exposure resulted in significant arsenic accumulation in organs, especially in the liver and kidneys (p < 0.01), liver and kidney function impairment (p < 0.01), and pathological changes, including hepatic steatosis, mild edema, balloon degeneration, and renal tubular epithelial cell edema and degeneration, with the aggregation of eosinophils in the renal capsule.DiscussionThese findings indicate that wild Cordyceps sinensis exhibits no detectable toxicity even at arsenic exposure levels comparable with those of inorganic arsenic. This study provides critical experimental evidence supporting the safe consumption of wild Cordyceps sinensis. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj-art-0e0f918218bc4ec98d714cf01714f0532025-08-20T03:23:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-06-011610.3389/fphar.2025.16250451625045Wild Cordyceps sinensis exhibits far lower arsenic accumulation and hepatorenal in mice compared to equivalent dose of inorganic arsenicLiang Gao0Liang Gao1Liang Gao2Hongxia Yang3Hongxia Yang4Jinmei Ma5Jinmei Ma6Hongtao Bi7Hongtao Bi8Yuancan Xiao9Yuancan Xiao10Cen Li11Cen Li12Cen Li13Lixin Wei14Lixin Wei15Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Xining, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaQinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Xining, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, ChinaQinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Xining, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, ChinaQinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Xining, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, ChinaQinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Xining, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, ChinaQinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Xining, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, ChinaDepartment of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesQinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Xining, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, ChinaIntroductionWild Cordyceps sinensis (C. sinensis) is a Chinese medicinal material known for its renal and pulmonary benefits. However, inorganic arsenic in wild Cordyceps sinensis may accumulate in the body following prolonged consumption; therefore, rigorous safety evaluations are needed.MethodsThis study compared the impacts of wild Cordyceps sinensis at the maximum clinical dose and equivalent doses of inorganic arsenic (16.36 mg/kg) to its total arsenic dose on organ indices, arsenic accumulation, and functional and pathological changes in the liver and kidney in mice, aiming to explore the safety of consuming wild Cordyceps sinensis. Arsenic accumulation in organs was measured via ICP–MS, while serum markers of liver and kidney functions were assessed via ELISA and biochemical assay kits. Histopathology was observed through H&E staining.ResultCompared with those in the control group, no significant adverse effects on body weight, organ indices, arsenic accumulation, liver or kidney function, or liver or kidney pathology were observed in the Cordyceps group. In contrast, inorganic arsenic exposure resulted in significant arsenic accumulation in organs, especially in the liver and kidneys (p < 0.01), liver and kidney function impairment (p < 0.01), and pathological changes, including hepatic steatosis, mild edema, balloon degeneration, and renal tubular epithelial cell edema and degeneration, with the aggregation of eosinophils in the renal capsule.DiscussionThese findings indicate that wild Cordyceps sinensis exhibits no detectable toxicity even at arsenic exposure levels comparable with those of inorganic arsenic. This study provides critical experimental evidence supporting the safe consumption of wild Cordyceps sinensis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1625045/fullwild Cordyceps sinensisinorganic arsenicsafetyarsenic accumulationliver and kidney damage |
| spellingShingle | Liang Gao Liang Gao Liang Gao Hongxia Yang Hongxia Yang Jinmei Ma Jinmei Ma Hongtao Bi Hongtao Bi Yuancan Xiao Yuancan Xiao Cen Li Cen Li Cen Li Lixin Wei Lixin Wei Wild Cordyceps sinensis exhibits far lower arsenic accumulation and hepatorenal in mice compared to equivalent dose of inorganic arsenic Frontiers in Pharmacology wild Cordyceps sinensis inorganic arsenic safety arsenic accumulation liver and kidney damage |
| title | Wild Cordyceps sinensis exhibits far lower arsenic accumulation and hepatorenal in mice compared to equivalent dose of inorganic arsenic |
| title_full | Wild Cordyceps sinensis exhibits far lower arsenic accumulation and hepatorenal in mice compared to equivalent dose of inorganic arsenic |
| title_fullStr | Wild Cordyceps sinensis exhibits far lower arsenic accumulation and hepatorenal in mice compared to equivalent dose of inorganic arsenic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wild Cordyceps sinensis exhibits far lower arsenic accumulation and hepatorenal in mice compared to equivalent dose of inorganic arsenic |
| title_short | Wild Cordyceps sinensis exhibits far lower arsenic accumulation and hepatorenal in mice compared to equivalent dose of inorganic arsenic |
| title_sort | wild cordyceps sinensis exhibits far lower arsenic accumulation and hepatorenal in mice compared to equivalent dose of inorganic arsenic |
| topic | wild Cordyceps sinensis inorganic arsenic safety arsenic accumulation liver and kidney damage |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1625045/full |
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