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Nutrients
Chinese caterpillar fungus is a rare medicinal herb with a sweet taste and mild pharmacological property. Pharmacological test indicates that the main active ingredient cordyceps sinensis polysaccharide is consisted of mannose, cordycepin, adenosine, galactose, arabinose, xylose, glucose and fucose. It also contains oxalate 7%, protein 25%, fat about 8.4% (82.2% of fat is necessary to man but can¡¯t be compounded by human body), 12 kinds of free amino acid (18 kinds of amino acid through hydrolysis in which eight essential amino acid and histidine necessary to infant growth are completely included), VB12, fungisterol, alkaloid, etc.
Medicinal use and research
Medicinal use of the caterpillar fungus apparently originated in Tibet. The fungus is a medicinal mushroom which is highly prized by practitioners of Tibetan medicine, Chinese medicine and traditional Folk medicines. In Chinese medicine C. sinensis is considered sweet and warm, entering the lung and kidney channels.
Aging (senescence)
Traditionally, cordyceps has been used in the elderly population to improve weakness, impotence, and fatigue associated with aging. Clinical studies have been conducted among elderly subjects; Improvements in self-reported symptoms have been described, as have increases in red blood cell superoxide dismutase activity and decreases in malondialdehyde levels. Other antioxidant effects, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and decreases in lipid peroxidation are thought to be responsible for the antiaging effects, as well as effects on the adrenergic and dopamine systems.
Cancer
Numerous in vitro and animal experiments have been conducted on aqueous and ethanol extracts of cordyceps, as well as with cordycepin and oxypiperazines extracted from the mycelium. The extracts enhanced cytokine activity and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, thereby reducing tumor cell proliferation and enhancing survival times.
Cardiovascular effects
Cordyceps has a long history of traditional medicinal use in heart disease. Adenosine and other nucleosides are thought to be responsible for the effects seen in animal studies. A vasodilatory action has been reported in anesthetized dogs, and hypotensive and vaso-relaxant effects have been demonstrated in rats. Reduced heart rate and restoration from arrhythmias have also been shown in animals. Long-term, open-label clinical studies in cardiac failure have described cordyceps' effect in improving cardiac function, arrhythmias, and overall quality of life, but are yet to be substantiated by large, high-quality clinical trials.
A positive effect on hyperlipidemia has also been reported in aqueous extracts of cordyceps.
Diabetes
Animal studies suggest cordyceps, particularly the polysaccharide extracts, decreases blood glucose levels by improving glucose metabolism and enhancing insulin sensitivity. 1 small (N = 20), randomized trial found that taking C. sinensis 3 g daily improved the blood sugar profile over placebo.
Hepatic function
Hepatoprotective effects of cordyceps extracts have been demonstrated in animal models. Open-label clinical studies conducted in patients with active hepatitis and posthepatic cirrhosis reported improvements in liver function tests.
Immune system
Different fractions of cordyceps extracts (either aqueous or ethanol based) appear to have different effects and, therefore, an immune-modulator function for cordyceps has been proposed.
In vitro effects include enhanced phagocytosis activity of macrophages, increased enzymatic activity of acid phosphatase, and induction of interleukin and tumor necrosis factor production. A decrease in cyclooxygenase-2 expression has also been demonstrated in vitro, In mice, enhanced splenocyte proliferation, increased plasma corticosterone, decreased production of immunoglobulin E, and modulation of cytokine and CD4+ and CD8+ cell production were reported.
Respiratory effects
In vitro studies suggest aqueous extracts of C. sinensis have a stimulatory effect on ion transport in human airway epithelial cells, possibly because of cordycepin and adenosine. Animal studies suggest the observed effects on respiration are caused by enhanced oxygen utilization capacity, supporting the traditional use of cordyceps in Tibet and Nepal to offset altitude sickness. Clinical studies conducted in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchitis have suggested efficacy for cordyceps.
Sexual dysfunction
Experiments in castrated rats showed a mild effect on sexual function. In clinical studies in elderly populations, improved sexual drive and virility were reported.
Other effects
Inhibition of osteoclast differentiation in mice has been described. Stimulation of erythropeiesis has been reported, as well as antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial activity.
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