All Issue

2025 Vol.1, Issue 4 Preview Page

Research Article

Oral administration of Cordyceps militaris powder via drinking water alleviates intestinal inflammation in DSS-induced colitis mouse models
Hyun-Seo Lee1
,
Jun-Su Kim1
,
Gyu-Seong Kim1
,
Won-Vin Choi1
,
Hae-Cheol Lee1
,
Young-Chan Kim1
,
Min-Ju Kim12*
1School of Animal Life Convergence Science, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Republic of Korea
2Institute of Applied Humanimal Science, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Republic of Korea
*Corresponding Author
31 December 2025. pp. 169-179
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

This study investigated the effects of Cordyceps militaris powder (CMP) on disease symptoms and physiological responses in a 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. Forty male ICR mice (6 weeks old) were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial design based on presence or absence of DSS administration and CMP supplementation (100 mg/kg) for seven days. Body weight, feed and water intake, and disease activity index (DAI) were monitored. At the end of the experiment, gastrointestinal tract length, fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and jejunal tight junction gene expression (ZO-1, OCLN, CLDN4) were analyzed. High-dose DSS induced severe colitis symptoms, including body weight loss, reduced colon length, increased DAI, and decreased SCFAs concentrations. CMP supplementation did not restore intake reduction or tight junction gene expression; however, it significantly lowered DAI (p < 0.05), partially mitigated colon shortening, and notably recovered fecal acetate, propionate, and butyrate levels during the later phase. These findings suggest that CMP may alleviate clinical symptoms and improve gut metabolic function in acute colitis, indicating potential as a functional material for IBD symptom management.

Keywords
Cordyceps militaris
Dextran sulfate sodium
Disease activity index
Inflammatory bowel disease
Short-chain fatty acids
References
1

Calvez V, Puca P, Di Vincenzo F, Del Gaudio A, Bartocci B, Murgiano M, Iaccarino J, Parand E, Napolitano D, Pugliese D. 2025. Novel Insights into the Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Biomedicines 13(2):305. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13020305

10.3390/biomedicines1302030540002718PMC11853239
2

Jarmakiewicz-Czaja S, Zielińska M, Sokal A, Filip R. 2022. Genetic and epigenetic etiology of inflammatory bowel disease: an update. Genes 13(12):2388. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13122388

10.3390/genes1312238836553655PMC9778199
3

Heydari K, Rahnavard M, Ghahramani S, Hoseini A, Alizadeh-Navaei R, Rafati S, Raei M, Vahidipour M, Salehi F, Motafeghi F. 2025. Global prevalence and incidence of inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench 18(2):132-146. https://doi.org/10.22037/ghfbb.v18i2.3105

10.22037/ghfbb.v18i2.310540936779PMC12421925
4

Lin D, Jin Y, Shao X, Xu Y, Ma G, Jiang Y, Xu Y, Jiang Y, Hu D. 2024. Global, regional, and national burden of inflammatory bowel disease, 1990–2021: Insights from the global burden of disease 2021. Int J Colorectal Dis 39(1):139. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-024-04711-x

10.1007/s00384-024-04711-x39243331PMC11380638
5

Yoo Y-S, Chung M, Cho O-H. 2014. Factors related to quality of life of patients with ulcerative colitis. Korean J Adult Nurs 26(2):129-138. https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2014.26.2.129

10.7475/kjan.2014.26.2.129
6

Cai Z, Wang S, Li J. 2021. Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: a comprehensive review. Front Med 8:765474. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.765474

10.3389/fmed.2021.76547434988090PMC8720971
7

Imbrizi M, Magro F, Coy CSR. 2023. Pharmacological therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases: a narrative review of the past 90 years. Pharmaceuticals 16(9):1272. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16091272

10.3390/ph1609127237765080PMC10537095
8

Choi CH, Moon W, Kim YS, Kim ES, Lee B-I, Jung Y, Yoon YS, Lee H, Park DI, Han DS. 2017. Second Korean guideline for the management of ulcerative colitis. Korean J Gastroenterol 69(1):1-28. https://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2017.69.1.1

10.4166/kjg.2017.69.1.1
9

Kapizioni C, Desoki R, Lam D, Balendran K, Al-Sulais E, Subramanian S, Rimmer JE, De La Revilla Negro J, Pavey H, Pele L. 2024. Biologic therapy for inflammatory bowel disease: real-world comparative effectiveness and impact of drug sequencing in 13 222 patients within the UK IBD BioResource. J Crohn's Colitis 18(6):790-800. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjad203

10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjad20338041850PMC11147798
10

Wang K, Zhu Y, Liu K, Zhu H, Ouyang M. 2024. Adverse events of biologic or small molecule therapies in clinical trials for inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heliyon 10(4):e25357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25357

10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e2535738370239PMC10869791
11

Duan L, Cheng S, Li L, Liu Y, Wang D, Liu G. 2021. Natural anti-inflammatory compounds as drug candidates for inflammatory bowel disease. Front Pharmacol 12:684486. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.684486

10.3389/fphar.2021.68448634335253PMC8316996
12

Zhou Y, Wang D, Yan W. 2023. Treatment effects of natural products on inflammatory bowel disease in vivo and their mechanisms: Based on animal experiments. Nutrients 15(4):1031. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15041031

10.3390/nu1504103136839389PMC9967064
13

Park H-J. 2025. Influence of Culture Conditions on Bioactive Compounds in Cordyceps militaris: A Comprehensive Review. Foods 14(19):3408. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14193408

10.3390/foods1419340841097576PMC12523487
14

Xiong S, Jiang J, Wan F, Tan D, Zheng H, Xue H, Hang Y, Lu Y, Su Y. 2024. Cordyceps militaris extract and cordycepin alleviate oxidative stress, modulate gut microbiota and ameliorate intestinal damage in LPS-induced piglets. Antioxidants 13(4):441. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13040441

10.3390/antiox1304044138671889PMC11047340
15

Huang R, Zhu Z, Wu S, Wang J, Chen M, Liu W, Huang A, Zhang J, Wu Q, Ding Y. 2022. Polysaccharides from Cordyceps militaris prevent obesity in association with modulating gut microbiota and metabolites in high-fat diet-fed mice. Food Res Int 157:111197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111197

10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111197
16

Zheng H, Cao H, Zhang D, Huang J, Li J, Wang S, Lu J, Li X, Yang G, Shi Xe. 2022. Cordyceps militaris modulates intestinal barrier function and gut microbiota in a pig model. Front Microbiol 13:810230. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.810230

10.3389/fmicb.2022.81023035369439PMC8969440
17

Park DK, Park H-J. 2013. Ethanol Extract of Cordyceps militaris Grown on Germinated Soybeans Attenuates Dextran‐Sodium‐Sulfate‐(DSS‐) Induced Colitis by Suppressing the Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Inflammatory Mediators. BioMed Res Int 2013(1):102918. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/102918

10.1155/2013/10291823841050PMC3694364
18

Wu S, Wu Z, Chen Y. 2023. Effect of Cordyceps militaris Powder Prophylactic Supplementation on Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Impairment and Microbiota-Metabolites Axis in DSS-Injured Mice. Nutrients 15(20):4378. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15204378

10.3390/nu1520437837892453PMC10610503
19

Liu Z, Wu S, Zhang W, Cui H, Zhang J, Yin X, Zheng X, Shen T, Ying H, Chen L. 2024. Cordycepin mitigates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis through improving gut microbiota composition and modulating Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg balance. Biomed Pharmacother 180:117394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117394

10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117394
20

Jeengar MK, Thummuri D, Magnusson M, Naidu V, Uppugunduri S. 2017. Uridine ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Sci Rep 7(1):3924. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-04041-9

10.1038/s41598-017-04041-928634361PMC5478663
21

Peng L, Gao X, Nie L, Xie J, Dai T, Shi C, Tao L, Wang Y, Tian Y, Sheng J. 2020. Astragalin attenuates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute experimental colitis by alleviating gut microbiota dysbiosis and inhibiting NF-κB activation in mice. Front Immunol 11:2058. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.02058

10.3389/fimmu.2020.0205833042117PMC7523281
22

Chassaing B, Aitken JD, Malleshappa M, Vijay-Kumar M. 2014. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Curr Protoc Immunol 104(1):15.25. 11-15.25. 14. https://doi.org/10.1002/0471142735.im1525s104

10.1002/0471142735.im1525s10424510619PMC3980572
23

Dong Y, Hao M, Xu Y, Feng L, Li D, Lian Y, Wu D, Dai Z. 2025. A novel lutein-stevioside complex inhibits DSS-induced colitis. Food Prod Process Nu 7(1):34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43014-025-00310-7

10.1186/s43014-025-00310-7
24

Hassan AM, Jain P, Reichmann F, Mayerhofer R, Farzi A, Schuligoi R, Holzer P. 2014. Repeated predictable stress causes resilience against colitis-induced behavioral changes in mice. Front Behav Neurosci 8:386. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00386

10.3389/fnbeh.2014.0038625414650PMC4222228
25

Hong I-P, Choi Y-S, Woo S-O, Han S-M, Kim H-K, Lee M-R, Nam S-H, Ha N-G. 2011. Stimulatory effect of Cordyceps militaris on testosterone production in male mouse. Korean J Mycol 39(2):148-150. https://doi.org/10.4489/KJM.2010.39.2.148

10.4489/KJM.2010.39.2.148
26

Yu M, Yue J, Hui N, Zhi Y, Hayat K, Yang X, Zhang D, Chu S, Zhou P. 2021. Anti-hyperlipidemia and gut microbiota community regulation effects of selenium-rich cordyceps militaris polysaccharides on the high-fat diet-fed mice model. Foods 10(10):2252. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10102252

10.3390/foods1010225234681302PMC8534605
27

Fritzsch B. 2020. The senses: a comprehensive reference. Academic Press.

28

Houben MA, van Nes A, Tobias TJ. 2015. Water palatability, a matter of taste. Porcine Health Manag 1(1):10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-015-0004-z

10.1186/s40813-015-0004-z28405417PMC5382373
29

Zhang M, Xing S, Fu C, Fang F, Liu J, Kan J, Qian C, Chai Q, Jin C. 2022. Effects of drying methods on taste components and flavor characterization of Cordyceps militaris. Foods 11(23):3933. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11233933

10.3390/foods1123393336496741PMC9735880
30

Park YH, Kim N, Shim YK, Choi YJ, Nam RH, Choi YJ, Ham MH, Suh JH, Lee SM, Lee CM. 2015. Adequate dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis model in mice and effective outcome measurement method. J Cancer Prev 20(4):260. https://doi.org/10.15430/JCP.2015.20.4.260

10.15430/JCP.2015.20.4.26026734588PMC4699753
31

Xu H-M, Huang H-L, Liu Y-D, Zhu J-Q, Zhou Y-L, Chen H-T, Xu J, Zhao H-L, Guo X, Shi W. 2021. Selection strategy of dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute or chronic colitis mouse models based on gut microbial profile. BMC Microbiol 21(1):279. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-021-02342-8

10.1186/s12866-021-02342-834654370PMC8520286
32

Han ES, Oh JY, Park H-J. 2011. Cordyceps militaris extract suppresses dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis in mice and production of inflammatory mediators from macrophages and mast cells. J Ethnopharmacol 134(3):703-710. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.01.022

10.1016/j.jep.2011.01.022
33

Im Y, Wang Q, Park J, Lee H, Kim H. 2023. Sargassum horneri extract ameliorates DSS-induced colitis through modulation of mTOR axis and intestinal microbiota. Appl Sci 13(3):1742. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031742

10.3390/app13031742
34

Wang S, Yang X, Liu X, Wen Q, Xu L, Feng M, Lang J, Liu D. 2025. Iron modulates barrier integrity and stem cell function of small intestine during experimental colitis. Front Nutr 12:1545956. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1545956

10.3389/fnut.2025.154595640416374PMC12100934
35

Yee S-M, Choi H, Seon J-E, Ban Y-J, Kim M-J, Seo J-E, Seo JH, Kim S, Moon SH, Yun C-H. 2023. Axl alleviates DSS-induced colitis by preventing dysbiosis of gut microbiota. Sci Rep 13(1):5371. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32527-2

10.1038/s41598-023-32527-237005456PMC10067963
36

Ji Y, Tao T, Zhang J, Su A, Zhao L, Chen H, Hu Q. 2021. Comparison of effects on colitis-associated tumorigenesis and gut microbiota in mice between Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris. Phytomedicine 90:153653. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153653

10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153653
37

Ren D-d, Chen K-C, Li S-s, Zhang Y-t, Li Z-m, Liu S, Sun Y-s. 2023. Panax quinquefolius polysaccharides ameliorate ulcerative colitis in mice induced by dextran sulfate sodium. Front Immunol 14:1161625. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1161625

10.3389/fimmu.2023.116162537415978PMC10321667
38

Peng K, Xia S, Xiao S, Yu Q. 2022. Short‐chain fatty acids affect the development of inflammatory bowel disease through intestinal barrier, immunology, and microbiota: A promising therapy? J Gastroenterol Hepatol 37(9):1710-1718. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgh.15970

10.1111/jgh.15970
39

Zhang Y, Ji W, Qin H, Chen Z, Zhou Y, Zhou Z, Wang J, Wang K. 2025. Astragalus polysaccharides alleviate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice by restoring SCFA production and regulating Th17/Treg cell homeostasis in a microbiota-dependent manner. Carbohyd Polym 349:122829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122829

10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122829
40

Parada Venegas D, De la Fuente MK, Landskron G, González MJ, Quera R, Dijkstra G, Harmsen HJ, Faber KN, Hermoso M.A. 2019. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-mediated gut epithelial and immune regulation and its relevance for inflammatory bowel diseases. Front Immunol 10:277. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00277

10.3389/fimmu.2019.0027730915065PMC6421268
41

Yang S, Shang J, Liu L, Tang Z, Meng X. 2022. Strains producing different short-chain fatty acids alleviate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by regulating intestinal microecology. Food Funct 13(23):12156-12169. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2FO01577C

10.1039/D2FO01577C
42

Al-Failakawi A, Al-Jarallah A, Rao M, Khan I. 2024. The role of claudins in the pathogenesis of dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis: The effects of nobiletin. Biomolecules 14(9):1122. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14091122

10.3390/biom1409112239334888PMC11430412
43

Han S, Do YJ, Lee S, Seo SY. 2025. Investigation of the Interaction between Oral and Intestinal Tight Junction Dysfunction in a DSS-induced acute ulcerative colitis Model. Herb Formula Sci 33(3):233-245. https://doi.org/10.14374/HFS.2025.33.3.233

10.14374/HFS.2025.33.3.233
44

Qian Y, Ma L, Zeng M, Liu Z. 2022. Amelioration of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis by autoinducer-2-deficient Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is mediated by anti-inflammatory effects and alleviation of dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Front Microbiol 13:1013586. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1013586

10.3389/fmicb.2022.101358636187993PMC9515423
45

Almutary AG, Alnuqaydan AM, Almatroodi SA, Tambuwala MM. 2023. Comparative analysis of the effect of different concentrations of dextran sodium sulfate on the severity and extent of inflammation in experimental ulcerative colitis. Appl Sci 13(5):3233. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13053233

10.3390/app13053233
46

Karlsson A, Jägervall Å, Pettersson M, Andersson A-K, Gillberg P-G, Melgar S. 2008. Dextran sulphate sodium induces acute colitis and alters hepatic function in hamsters. Int Immunopharmacol 8(1):20-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2007.10.007

10.1016/j.intimp.2007.10.007
Information
  • Publisher :Journal of Humanimal Sciences
  • Publisher(Ko) :한경국립대학교 휴머니멀응용과학연구소
  • Journal Title :Journal of Humanimal Sciences
  • Journal Title(Ko) :휴머니멀과학학술지
  • Volume : 1
  • No :4
  • Pages :169-179
  • Received Date : 2025-12-03
  • Accepted Date : 2025-12-15
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.23341/jhas.2025.1.4.169
Journal Informaiton Journal of Humanimal Sciences Journal of Humanimal Sciences
Online Submission
  • open access
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close