Cordycepin exhibits anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects against gastritis in Helicobacter pylori-infected mice

Abstract Helicobacter pylori is one of the dominant members of gastric microbiota associated with gastritis. Chronic H. pylori colonization may yield detrimental consequences, including mucosal layer atrophy, gastritis, and gastric cancer. The traditional antibiotic treatment might result in antibiotic resistance. To overcome this obstacle, this study aims to investigate the potential antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of cordycepin on mice infected with H. pylori. A mouse model of H. pylori infection was established. The expression levels of target genes were evaluated by qRT-PCR, western blotting, or ELISA. The infiltrated Th17 cell population was determined by flow cytometry analysis. Our results demonstrated that the administration of cordycepin exhibited up to 3-fold antibacterial effect against H. pyloriin vivo. Cordycepin treatment resulted in around 50% inflammatory cytokine production (e.g. IL-6 and IL-1β) and about 60% immune cell infiltration (e.g. Th17 cells) when compared to vehicle control group. Thus, we confirmed that cordycepin conferred antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects on H. pylori-infected mice. Cordycepin may serve as a potential candidate for developing a therapeutic regimen for H. pylori-induced gastritis.