Cordyceps

Description

Cordyceps sinensis, also called Chinese caterpillar fungus, Cs-4, Dong Chong Xia Caoor, or semitake, is a fungus native to the Tibetan plateau in China. The fungus is parasitic, and grows in the moth caterpillar. Spores enter the host, germinate, and ultimately kill the larva. Although species of cordyceps are seen in Europe and the Americas, only the Chinese form has been used medically.

General Use

Cordyceps has a long history of use in Chinese medicine. Its traditional roles have been restorative; improving the quality of life, and increasing energy and longevity.

Traditional uses of the thousand year "rejuvenation" herb include the following:

• impotence treatment
• increase fertility
• stimulate immune system
• improve resistance to bacteria
• increase resistance to viruses
• relieve fatigue
• vitality tonic for mind and body, especially in aging men

While most of the cordyceps research has been conducted in China, published studies in Europe and elsewhere indicate that the fungus may have many potentially useful properties. A Korean study of a related species of cordyceps indicates that it has components that may inhibit coagulation, making it potentially beneficial in stroke and heart attack prevention. A hot water extract of the fungus appeared to stimulate the immune system. This immune modulation effect is seen in other studies, which have reported that cordyceps may be useful in treating Hepatitis B. A study from Thailand reported that Cordyceps nipponica may have value in the treatment of malaria. Additional studies have indicated its possible benefit in preventing a recurrence of Lupus nephritis. However, another study that looked at herbs used as performance enhancers (to improve exercise and athletic performance), was unable to validate cordyceps' value for this purpose.

Another review concluded that cordyceps may be promising as a possible aid for fatigue, stress, heart health, lung function, and toxin exposure.

Cordyceps has physiological properties and benefits if used over time as a tonic, but taking it for a specific disease or problem remains an area needing further human studies and research. The traditional use of cordyceps was as an ongoing daily tonic, beginning in mid-life.

Preparations

Cordyceps capsules are available in varying strengths (400 mg, 450 mg, 615 mg, and 800 mg). The liquid preparation is sold in 1 gram per 1.5 ml strength.

Precautions

Cordyceps appears to be an exceptionally safe product, with no established toxic dose. In 1996, there were two reports of cordyceps products contaminated with lead, but this does not appear to be an ongoing problem.

There is a risk of allergic reactions to either the fungus or other ingredients in the formulation.

Formulations of cordyceps are not standardized. Products are labeled in terms of the quantity of dried fungus contained, but there is no way to determine the amount of active components in any product. Because of this, activity may vary between brands, and between individual samples from the same company.

Side Effects

Side effects appear to be mild. Patients have reported stomach upset, dry mouth, and nausea.

Interactions

At this time, the only established interaction is due to the anticoagulant effects of the fungus, which may increase the risk of bleeding in patients taking warfarin (commonly known by the brand name Coumadin) or other anticoagulant drugs.

Because of the many different activities that have been attributed to cordyceps, it seems likely that other drug interactions will be reported in the future.

Resources

Books

Jones, K. Cordyceps: Tonic Food of Ancient China. New Mexico: Sylvan, 1997.

Periodicals

Bucci, L. R. "Selected Herbals and Human Exercise Performance."American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (August 2000): 624S–36S.

Chen, Y. J., M. S. Shiao, S. S. Lee, and S. Y. Wang. "Effect of Cordyceps sinensis on the Proliferation and Differentiation of Human Leukemic U937 Cells."Life Science (1997): 2349–59.

Der Marderosian, A., Beutler, et al., editors. "Review of Natural Products."Facts & Comparisons (February 2004).

Isaka, M., M. Tanticharoen, P. Kongsaeree, and Y. Thebtaranonth. "Structures of Cordypyridones A-D, Antimalarial N-hydroxy- and N-methoxy-2-pyridones from the Insect Pathogenic Fungus Cordyceps nipponica."Journal of Organic Chemistry (July 13, 2001): 4803–8.

Pegler, D. N., Y. J. Yao, and Y. Li. "The Chinese Caterpillar Fungus."Mycologist (February 8, 1994).

Wu, T. N., K. Yang, C. M. Wang, J. S. Lai, K. N. Ko, P. Y. Chang, and S. H. Liou. "Lead Poisoning Caused by Contaminated Cordyceps, a Chinese Herbal Medicine: Two Case Reports."Science of the Total Environment (April 5, 1996): 193–5.

Yu, K. W., K. M. Kim, and H. J. Suh. "Pharmacological Activities of Stromata of Cordyceps Scarabaecola."Phytother Res (March 17, 2003): 244–9.

[Article by: Samuel Uretsky, Pharm.D.]

Cordyceps
Cordyceps ophioglossoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Subkingdom:	Dikarya
Phylum:	Ascomycota
Subphylum:	Pezizomycotina
Class:	Sordariomycetes
Subclass:	Hypocreomycetidae
Order:	Hypocreales
Family:	Clavicipitaceae
Genus:	Cordyceps
Species
C. bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) C. gunnii C. ophioglossoides C. sinensis C. subsessilis (Petch) C. unilateralis

Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi (sac fungi) that includes about 400 described species. All Cordyceps species are endoparasitoids, mainly on insects and other arthropods (they are thus entomopathogenic fungi); a few are parasitic on other fungi. The best known species of the genus is Cordyceps sinensis^[1], first recorded as yartsa gunbu in Tibet in the 15th Century ^[2]. The Latin etymology describes cord as club, ceps as head, and sinensis as Chinese. Cordyceps sinensis, known in English commonly as caterpillar fungus is considered a medicinal mushroom in oriental medicines, such as Traditional Chinese Medicines^[3] and Traditional Tibetan medicine.

When a Cordyceps fungus attacks a host, the mycelium invades and eventually replaces the host tissue, while the elongated fruiting body (stroma) may be cylindrical, branched, or of complex shape. The stroma bears many small, flask-shaped perithecia that contain the asci. These in turn contain the thread-like ascospores, which usually break into fragments and are presumably infective.

Some Cordyceps species are able to affect the behavior of their insect host; Cordyceps unilateralis causes ants to climb a plant and attach there before they die. This ensures the parasite's environment is of the optimal temperature and humidity, and maximal distribution of the spores from the fruiting body that sprouts out of the dead insect is achieved.^[4]

The genus has a worldwide distribution and most of the approximately 400 species^[5] have been described from Asia (notably China, Japan, Korea and Thailand). Cordyceps species are particularly abundant and diverse in humid temperate and tropical forests.

The genus has many anamorphs (asexual states), of which Beauveria (possibly including Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium, and Isaria) are the better known, since these have been used in biological control of insect pests.

Some Cordyceps species are sources of biochemicals with interesting biological and pharmacological properties^[6], like cordycepin; the anamorph of Cordyceps subsessilis (Tolypocladium inflatum) was the source of ciclosporin — a drug helpful in human organ transplants, as it suppresses the immune system (Immunosuppressive drug).^[7]

Contents 1 Cordyceps research 2 Cordyceps introduction to the world 3 Value of cordyceps 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External links

Cordyceps research

Cordycepin a compound isolated from the "Caterpillar fungus".

Some work has been published in which Cordyceps sinensis has been used to protect the bone marrow and digestive systems of mice from whole body irradiation.^[8] An experiment noted Cordyceps sinensis may protect the liver from damage.^[9] An experiment with mice noted the mushroom may have an anti-depressant effect.^[10] Researchers have noted that Cordyceps has a hypoglycemic effect and may be beneficial for people with insulin resistance.^{[11][12][13][14][15]}

Cordyceps introduction to the world

Outside the East, the world was largely unaware of cordyceps. This changed when the fungus caught the world's attention due to three female Chinese athletes, Wang Junxia, Qu Yunxia, and Zhang Linli. These athletes broke 5 world records for 1,500, 3,000 and 10,000 meters in 1993 at the National Games in Beijing, China. The amount of new world records being set at a single track event caused much attention and suspicion. Following the races, the women were expected by some to fail drug tests for anabolic steroids. However, the athletes' tests revealed no illegal substances, and coach Ma Junren told reporters that the runners were taking Cordyceps at his request.

Value of cordyceps

According to Modern Marvels, a show on the History Channel, mushroom hunters in Tibet can earn $900 dollars for an ounce of cordyceps.[1]

According to Daniel Winkler, the price of cordyceps has risen dramatically in the capital of Tibet, Lhasa.^[16]

Year	% Price Increase	Price/kg (Yuan)
1980s		1,800
1997	467%	8,400
2004	429%	36,000
2005		10,000-60,000

Gallery

Cordyceps sinensis (vegetable caterpillar), mostly whole dried choice specimens.

Cordyceps beginning its growth from an insect.

Cordyceps militaris

Cordyceps militaris

Cordyceps being weighed in at the market in China.

See also

Fungi portal

• Medicinal mushrooms
• Yarchagumba (Caterpillar fungus, Tochukaso, Dong Chong Xia Cao)
• Medicinal Mushrooms: Their Therapeutic Properties and Current Medical Usage with Special Emphasis on Cancer Treatments by Cancer Research UK (the American equivalent to the US National Cancer Institute), 2001.[2]

References

1. ^ Holliday, John; Cleaver, Matt; (2008). "Medicinal Value of the Caterpillar Fungi Species of the Genus Cordyceps (Fr.) Link (Ascomycetes). A Review" (PDF). International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms (New York: Begell House) 10 (3): 219. ISSN 1521-9437. http://www.alohamedicinals.com/cordycepsIJM1003.pdf. 
2. ^ Winkler, D. 2008a. Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis) and the Fungal Commodification of the Rural Economy in Tibet AR. Economic Botany 63.2: 291-306
3. ^ Halpern, Georges M. (2007). Healing Mushrooms. Square One Publishers. pp. 65–86. ISBN 978-0757001963. http://www.alohamedicinals.com/HealingMush_Private_10-18-06.pdf. 
4. ^ "Neurophilosophy: Brainwashed by a parasite". 2006-11-20. http://neurophilosophy.wordpress.com/2006/11/20/brainwashed-by-a-parasite/. Retrieved 2008-07-02. 
5. ^ Sung, Gi-Ho; Nigel L. Hywel-Jones, Jae-Mo Sung, J. Jennifer Luangsa-ard, Bhushan Shrestha and Joseph W. Spatafora (2007). "Phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps and the clavicipitaceous fungi". Stud Mycol 57 (1): 5–59. 
6. ^ Holliday, John; Cleaver, Phillip; Lomis-Powers, Megan; Patel, Dinesh; (2004). "Analysis of Quality and Techniques for Hybridization of Medicinal Fungus Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.)Sacc. (Ascomycetes)" (PDF). International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms (New York: Begell House) 6 (2): 152. ISSN 1521-9437. http://www.alohamedicinals.com/cordy_IJMM_hybrid_article.pdf. 
7. ^ Holliday, John (2005), "Cordyceps", in Coates, Paul M. (PDF), Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements, 1, Marcel Dekker, pp. 4 of Cordyceps Chapter, http://www.alohamedicinals.com/cordyceps.pdf 
8. ^ Liu, Wei-Chung; Wang, Shu-Chi; Tsai, Min-Lung; Chen, Meng-Chi; Wang, Ya-Chen; Hong, Ji-Hong; McBride, William H.; Chiang (2006-12), "Protection against Radiation-Induced Bone Marrow and Intestinal Injuries by Cordyceps sinensis, a Chinese Herbal Medicine", Radiation Research 166 (6): 900–907, doi:10.1667/RR0670.1 
9. ^ Ko WS, Hsu SL, Chyau CC, Chen KC, Peng RY (July 2009). "Compound Cordyceps TCM-700C exhibits potent hepatoprotective capability in animal model". Fitoterapia. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2009.06.018. PMID 19596425. 
10. ^ Nishizawa K, Torii K, Kawasaki A, et al. (September 2007). "Antidepressant-like effect of Cordyceps sinensis in the mouse tail suspension test". Biol. Pharm. Bull. 30 (9): 1758–62. PMID 17827735. 
11. ^ Kiho T, Hui J, Yamane A, Ukai S (December 1993). "Polysaccharides in fungi. XXXII. Hypoglycemic activity and chemical properties of a polysaccharide from the cultural mycelium of Cordyceps sinensis". Biol. Pharm. Bull. 16 (12): 1291–3. PMID 8130781. 
12. ^ Kiho T, Yamane A, Hui J, Usui S, Ukai S (February 1996). "Polysaccharides in fungi. XXXVI. Hypoglycemic activity of a polysaccharide (CS-F30) from the cultural mycelium of Cordyceps sinensis and its effect on glucose metabolism in mouse liver". Biol. Pharm. Bull. 19 (2): 294–6. PMID 8850325. 
13. ^ Zhao CS, Yin WT, Wang JY, et al. (June 2002). "CordyMax Cs-4 improves glucose metabolism and increases insulin sensitivity in normal rats". J Altern Complement Med 8 (3): 309–14. doi:10.1089/10755530260127998. PMID 12165188. 
14. ^ Lo HC, Tu ST, Lin KC, Lin SC (April 2004). "The anti-hyperglycemic activity of the fruiting body of Cordyceps in diabetic rats induced by nicotinamide and streptozotocin". Life Sci. 74 (23): 2897–908. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2003.11.003. PMID 15050427. 
15. ^ Li SP, Zhang GH, Zeng Q, et al. (June 2006). "Hypoglycemic activity of polysaccharide, with antioxidation, isolated from cultured Cordyceps mycelia". Phytomedicine 13 (6): 428–33. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2005.02.002. PMID 16716913. 
16. ^ Winkler, Daniel (2008), "Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis) and the Fungal Commodification of the Rural Economy in Tibet AR", Economic Botany 62 (3): 291–305, doi:10.1007/s12231-008-9038-3 

Further reading

• Bensky, D.; Gamble, A.; Clavey, S.; Stoger, E.; Lai Bensky, L. (2004), Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (3rd ed.), Seattle: Eastland Press, ISBN 0939616424 
• Kobayasi, Y. (1941), "The genus Cordyceps and its allies", Science Reports of the Tokyo Bunrika Daigaku, Sect. B 5: 53–260, ISSN 0371-3547 
• Mains, E. B. (1957), "Species of Cordyceps parasitic on Elaphomyces", Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 84: 243–251, ISSN 0040-9618 
• Mains, E. B. (1958), "North American entomogenous species of Cordyceps", Mycologia 50: 169–222, ISSN 0027-5514 
• Tzean, S. S.; Hsieh, L. S.; Wu, W. J. (1997), Atlas of entomopathogenic fungi from Taiwan, Taiwan: Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan 

External links

• Photos of Cordyceps fungi
• Independent Medicinal Research on Cordyceps
• Clinical Potential of C. sinensis by J. Howard
• Fun Facts about Cordyceps
• BBC Planet Earth documentary coverage of Cordyceps
• An Electronic Monograph of Cordyceps and Related Fungi
• Cordyceps sinensis in Tibet[3]

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