Gao Liang, Yang Hongxia, Ma Jinmei, Bi Hongtao, Xiao Yuancan, Li Cen, Wei Lixin
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Xining, China.
CAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China.
Front Pharmacol. 2025 Jun 24;16:1625045. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1625045. eCollection 2025.
Wild Cordyceps 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.
This 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.
Compared 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 ( < 0.01), liver and kidney function impairment ( < 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.
These 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.
野生冬虫夏草是一种以对肾脏和肺部有益而闻名的中药材。然而，长期食用野生冬虫夏草后，其中的无机砷可能会在体内蓄积；因此，需要进行严格的安全性评估。
本研究比较了野生冬虫夏草最大临床剂量以及无机砷等效剂量（16.36毫克/千克）与其总砷剂量对小鼠器官指数、砷蓄积以及肝脏和肾脏功能及病理变化的影响，旨在探究食用野生冬虫夏草的安全性。通过电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）测定器官中的砷蓄积量，同时通过酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）和生化检测试剂盒评估肝脏和肾脏功能的血清标志物。通过苏木精-伊红（H&E）染色观察组织病理学变化。
与对照组相比，冬虫夏草组在体重、器官指数、砷蓄积、肝脏或肾脏功能以及肝脏或肾脏病理学方面均未观察到明显的不良反应。相比之下，无机砷暴露导致器官中显著的砷蓄积，尤其是在肝脏和肾脏中（<0.01），肝脏和肾脏功能受损（<0.01），以及出现病理变化，包括肝脂肪变性、轻度水肿、气球样变性，肾小管上皮细胞水肿和变性，肾包膜中有嗜酸性粒细胞聚集。
这些结果表明，即使在与无机砷相当的砷暴露水平下，野生冬虫夏草也未表现出可检测到的毒性。本研究提供了关键的实验证据，支持野生冬虫夏草的安全食用。
