What specific mechanism aids kidney protection in preclinical models involving C. sinensis?
Exhibiting anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activity within the kidney tissue.
Traditional Chinese Medicine utilized Cordyceps for renal diseases, and modern preclinical research supports a protective role for the kidney. In rat models subjected to ischemia/reperfusion injury—a significant stressor to kidney tissue—Cordyceps extracts demonstrated protective effects via multiple pathways. Key among these findings was the exhibition of anti-apoptotic activity, meaning the extracts helped prevent programmed cell death (apoptosis) in kidney cells that were under distress. Furthermore, concurrent anti-inflammatory activity in the renal tissue helps mitigate damage caused by the injury cascade, supporting overall renal function recovery in these experimental settings.
