METHOD OF ISOLATING SPHINGOLIPIDS FROM CORDYCEPS AND THEIR USE

摘要

The present invention provides a method of isolating at least one sphingolipid portion selected from a sphingoid base portion, a ceramide portion, a glycosphingolipid portion or a phosphosphingolipid portion from Cordyceps, in particular from wild-type Cordyceps. This method allows for obtaining sphingolipid portions having an increased amount of one of sphingoid bases, ceramides, glycosphingolipids or phosphosphingolipids. The sphingolipid portions isolated contained significant amounts of sphingolipids not reported so far. They further proved to possess exceptional immunosuppressive activities. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method of treating a subject suffering from an inflammatory disease like an autoimmune disease or an allergic disease by administering sphingolipids isolated from Cordyceps, in particular from wild-type Cordyceps. In accordance with the invention is also a method of treating a subject suffering from an inflammatory disease by administering certain sphingolipids to the subject. Still further in accordance with the present invention is a composition, in particular a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one sphingolipid portion.