Cultured Cordyceps sinensis polysaccharides attenuate cyclophosphamide-induced intestinal barrier injury in mice

Intestine is not only the largest digestive and absorbing organ, but also an important defensive barrier of the body. Maintaining healthy intestinal barrier is a prerequisite for intestinal function. In this study, polysaccharides from the cultured Cordyceps sinensis (CSP) were orally given to cyclophosphamide (Cy)-treated mice to investigate its protective effect on intestinal barrier injury. Results showed that CSP had positive effects on intestinal morphology, including restoring villus length and crypt depth as well as improving quantity of goblet cells and mucins expression. Furthermore, CSP enhanced intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), diamine oxidase (DAO), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR). In addition, occludin, claudin-1 and zonula occludins (ZO)-1 were upregulated and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), p-MLC were downregulated by CSP. Moreover, CSP promoted p-ERK and inhibited p-JNK, p-p38. These findings suggested that CSP could attenuate Cy-induced intestinal barrier injury which maybe associated with mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathways.