Comparisons of the anti-tumor activity of polysaccharides from fermented mycelia and cultivated fruiting bodies of Cordyceps militaris in vitro

A comparison of the anti-tumor activity of CMPS-II and CBPS-II polysaccharides, respectively is obtained from the fermented mycelium and cultivated fruiting bodies of Cordyceps militaris. This in vitro anti-tumor activity is investigated using an MTT assay, immunofluorescence staining, a Western Blot assay, a qRT-PCR assay, and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. The experimental results indicate that the inhibition rate of CMPS-II on H1299 tumor cells is higher than that of CBPS-II. With a concentration of 500 μ g/mL, the inhibition rate of CMPS-II and CBPS-II were 54.55% and 34.80%, respectively. Both CMPS-II and CBPS-II can increase the protein and mRNA expression level of cell apoptosis factors Caspase-3, Caspase-9, and p53, while reducing the protein and mRNA expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), to induce tumor cells apoptosis. The induction effect of CMPS-II was stronger than CBPS-II. These results suggest that CMPS-II is superior to CBPS-II regarding the inhibition of H1299 lung cancer cells. Furthermore, CMPS-II is a potentially useful substitution for CBPS-II in the treatment of lung cancer and provides new insights into the mechanism of its anti-tumor activity.