本研究為探討北冬蟲夏草(蛹蟲草)體內與體外生物活性，分三年完成。第二年計畫為探討北冬蟲夏草 (Cordyceps militaris) 於體內試驗之護肝效應。試驗大鼠預先餵食北冬蟲夏草（0.1-0.5 g/kg）連續28 天,並於犧牲前一天腹腔注射四氯化碳(0.5mmol/kg),再進行血清與肝臟生化值之測定與病理切片。結果顯示未經四氯化碳處理之大鼠餵食高劑量北冬蟲夏草(0.5g/kg)28天，並無顯著肝毒性。而不同劑量北冬蟲夏草(0.1-0.5 g/kg)對四氯化碳誘發大鼠肝損傷與四氯化碳傷害組比較，由GOT 與GTP 之表現而言，顯示不同劑量北冬蟲夏草可顯著抑制四氯化碳誘發肝損傷，且預先處理北冬蟲夏草可顯著減輕四氯化碳誘發glutathione (GSH)含量下降之現象。另外，根據肝臟病理切片結果也顯示不同劑量北冬蟲夏草有輕度抑制四氯化碳肝毒性反應之效益。綜合本試驗結果，顯示北冬蟲夏草具有輕微保護肝臟效應，而其作用機制與其降低肝臟氧化壓力之有很大關連性。 In this three-year project, the major purpose is to investigate of the bioactivities of Cordyceps militaris in vivo and in vitro. The major goal of the second year is to study the protective effects of Cordyceps militaris on liver damage in vivo According to the data, Cordyceps militaris (0.5 g/kg) did not exhibit obvious hepatotoxicity in vivo. On the other hand, The oral pretreatment of Cordyceps militaris (0.1-0.5 g/kg) for consecutive 28 days before a single dose of CCl4 (0.5 mmol/kg, ip) exhibited a significant protective effect by lowering the values of GOT and GPT, and increased the contents of glutathione (GSH). In addition, based on pathological nomenclatures, Cordyceps militaris also exhibited hepatoprotective activity in vivo. These results implied that Cordyceps militaris showed hepatoprotection which may be attributed to decrease oxidative stress in liver.
