Cordyceps pruinosa for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

To date, there have been no curative drugs for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Conventional drugs and biologic agents are not always effective and may cause serious side effects. Therefore, it is still challenging to develop effective and safe novel drugs for IBD. Although the exact etiology of IBD remains elusive, it is generally accepted that the immune system of the gut plays a central role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Recently, the nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) has been identified as the pivotal elements in the regulation of the increased inflammatory activity. Moreover, recent studies have shown that Cordyceps pruinosa extract is a inhibitor of NF- κB activation and can enhance weak immune functions. Based on these facts, I hypothesize that Cordyceps pruinosa extract may thus exert its therapeutic effect on IBD by regulating NF-κB activity and improving impaired immune functions.