Nano-Encapsulated Cordyceps militaris Grown on Germinated Black Bean Attenuates PM- and LPS-Induced Airway Inflammation

From the paper

Abstract

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) containing bacterial endotoxins triggers oxidative stress and inflammation in the respiratory epithelium. In this study, we investigated chitosan nanoparticle-encapsulated Cordyceps militaris grown on germinated Rhynchosia nulubilis (GCN) as a potential functional food–derived ingredient against PM- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cellular damage in human lung epithelial cells. Nano-encapsulation significantly improved the antioxidant capacity and storage stability of the extract compared with the non-encapsulated form GRC. GCN markedly attenuated PM- and LPS-induced cytotoxicity and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in a therapeutic index approximately 4.5-fold higher than that of GRC. PPI network and hub gene analysis identified 120 inflammation-related genes associated with PM- and LPS-induced pulmonary responses enriched in inflammatory response, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, Toll-like receptor, and TNF signaling pathways. Protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed TNF, CXCL-10, IL-6, IL-1β, and CXCL-2 as key hub genes involved in these pathways. Consistent with these predictions, GCN significantly suppressed PM- and LPS-induced mRNA expression of TNF-α, CXCL-2, and TRPC6, and effectively inhibited MAPK-mediated NF-κB and AP-1 signaling pathways in A549 cells. Collectively, nano-encapsulation enhances the stability and bioactivity of Cordyceps militaris-based extracts and suggest that GCN may serve as a functional food-derived ingredient for protecting airway epithelial cells from oxidative stress and inflammation induced by environmental stressors.