Brief Introduction

Synonyms--- Dong Cong Xia Cao (Chinese: 冬虫夏草 Winter worm, Summer grass), Caterpillar fungus (English common name)

Polysaccharides (as Beta-Glucan)

Chemical Name: Beta-Glucan, Beta-D-Glucan, Beta-(1,3)-D-Glucan
Molecular Formula: C18H30O14X2

Mol. Wt.: 470.42

Molecular Structure:

The water-soluble Polysaccharides derived from cordyceps are beta-glucan.

Cordycepin, Cordycepine, Adenosine

Chemical Name: 3'-Deoxyadenosine

CAS No.: 73-03-3
Molecular Formula: C₁₀H₁₃N₅O₃

Mol. Wt.: 251.24

Molecular Structure:

The 3'-Deoxyadenosine is first derived from Cordyceps,and is known as Cordycepin.

Cordyceps acid, D-mannitol, Mannitol, Mannite

Chemical Name: (2R,3R,4R,5R)-Hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol

CAS No.: 69-65-8

Molecular Formula: C₆H₁₄O₆

Mol. Wt.: 182.172

Molecular Structure:

Mannitol is a sugar alcohol, that is, it is derived from a sugar by reduction. Aqueous solutions of mannitol are mildly acidic, so D-mannitol derived from cordyceps is also called Cordyceps acid.

Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete (Sac Fungi) 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, first recorded as yartsa gunbu in Tibet in the 15th Century. 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 and Traditional Tibetan medicine.

In the Winter of Tibetan Plateau, Cordyceps sinensis fungus attacks the host--the larva of ghost moth (Hepialidae), makes it a stiff corpse, and the mycelium invades and eventually replaces the host tissue; in the Summer, when conditions allowed, its fruiting body grows up; the underground mycelia and the overground fruiting body together make up the medicinal ingredients (the so-called Dong Cong Xia Cao), which are sources of biochemicals with interesting biological and pharmacological properties, like cordycepin, cordyceps acid, cordyceps polysaccharides, many kinds of sterols, Proteins, Vitamins, Amino acids, minerals, and etc.

The Cordyceps Extract (also called Cordyceps sinensis mycelia Extract CS-4) used in dietary supplements is derived from the mycelia of Mycelia of Liquid culture of Paecilomyces hepialid Cordyceps sinensis CS-4, which is just as potent and in some cases more potent than the wild, carterpillar-body form, but the wild ones are very expensive, over $10,000/kg, for its source is becoming more and more scarce, and which provides an abundant, clean supply of cordyceps that would otherwise be too costly for most people to afford.

Benefits

Cordyceps sinensis contains a high concentration of Polysaccharides (as beta-glucan), Cordyceps acid and cordycepin. Modern researches indicate that the Cordyceps sinensis is beneficiary for the heart, lung, liver, renal, immune system, and etc.

Research has demonstrated the Cordyceps sinensis mycelia:

• Beneficiary effects on Heart disease: In clinical studies, significant improvements were found in stroke volume, heartbeat, cardiac output etc. in the Cordyceps sinensis group vs. the control group. And Cordyceps extract has shown great results when used in patients with ventricular arrhythmia.

• Beneficiary effects on Respiratory and Lung Disease: Cordyceps sinensis has been used in TCM to treat symptoms associated with respiratory diseases,such as the upper respiratory tract, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, and tuberculosis.

• Beneficiary effects on Renal Disease: Cordyceps sinensis has been used in TCM to treat symptoms associated with renal diseases, and also for kidney tonic.

• Beneficiary effects on reducing Cholesterol: Cordyceps sinensis reduces the amount of “bad” cholesterol and increases the amount of “good” HDL cholesterol.

• Beneficiary effects on Liver disease: Cordyceps sinensis can impove symptoms and liver-cell structures dramatically. Cirrhosis cells disappeared in 70 percent of the patients.

• Beneficiary effects on Sexual dysfunction in men: Cordyceps sinensis can benefit many men who have problem involving sexual function.

• Beneficiary effects on Reducing Fatigue: Cordyceps sinensis is used by competitive athletes to reduce fatigue and weakness and to improve endurance and energy levels.

• Beneficiary effects on Disorder of the immune system: Cordyceps sinensis appears to be one of the most adaptive immunomodulators.

• Stimulate the immune system cells, like NK cells(natural killer cells)

• Potentiate the immune system of cancer patients and of patients with immune deficiencies.

•Anti-cancer and be applied in the treatment of Leukemia.

•Beneficial effects on Lowering Blood Pressure

• Hypoglycemic effect: Researchers have noted that Cordyceps has a hypoglycemic effect.

•Beneficial effect on the management of diabetes, beneficial for people with insulin resistance.

• Beneficial effect on anti-depressant.

Mechanism

Cordyceps is rich in polysaccharides (Beta-glucan), Cordycepic acid(D-mannitol), Cordycepin (Adenosine), various vatamins, amino acids, and minerals (such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium), which results in its dramatically effects as listed benefits but not limited as above.

Mechanism of action and benefits of Water soluble Cordyceps Polysaccharides (Beta-glucan):

One active constituent in cordyceps for stimulating the immune system was identified as a protein-bound beta-glucan compound.

Beta-glucans are known as "biological response modifiers" because of their ability to activate the immune system. Immunologists at the University of Louisville, discovered that a receptor on the surface of innate immune cells called Complement Receptor 3 (CR3 or CD11b/CD18) is responsible for binding to beta-glucans, allowing the immune cells to recognize them as "non-self." However, it should be noted that the activity of beta-glucans is different from some pharmaceutical drugs which have the ability to over-stimulate the immune system. Pharmaceutical drugs have the potential to push the immune system to over-stimulation, and hence are contraindicated in individuals with autoimmune diseases, allergies, or yeast infections. Beta-glucans seem to make the immune system work better without becoming overactive. In addition to enhancing the activity of the immune system, beta-glucans also reportedly lower elevated levels of LDL cholesterol, aid in wound healing, help prevent infections, and have potential as an adjuvant in the treatment of cancer.

Cordyceps has been the subject of many studies in immuno-stimulation and has shown potent effects. The active constituents are water soluble polysaccharides(Beta-glucan). Cordyceps stimulates various cells of the immune system, including natural killer cells, macrophages, interleukin 1, Gamma-interferon, immunoglobulins M and G, leukocytes and helper T cells. Cordyceps can be used as a kidney tonic and to potenciate the immune system of cancer patients and of patients with immune deficiencies, it is also present in most Chinese male virility formulas. In China, curative effects with Cordyceps have been noted in cancer of the lung, prostate, and pubis. Based on different studies, Cordyceps could also be applied in the treatment of Leukemia. Cordyceps effectively augmented natural killer cell activity without toxicity to normal cells.The inbition of cancer cells by Cordyceps is primarily due to polysaccharides that stimulate the defenses of the immune system.

Mechanism of action and benefits of Cordycepic Acid (D-Mannitol):

It exerts an osmotic draw for water, sodium, and potassium.

Mannitol medical uses: Acute renal failure; Reduction of cranial pressure; Stimulate diuresis in drug intoxications; Reduction of intraocular pressure.

Mechanism of action and benefits of Cordycepin(3'-deoxyadenosine):

It is a derivative of the nucleoside adenosine, differing from the latter by the absence of oxygen in the 3' position of its ribose part. It was initially extracted from fungi of genus Cordyceps, but is now produced synthetically.Because cordycepin is similar to adenosine; some enzymes cannot discriminate between the two. Therefore, it can participate in certain biochemical reactions (for example, be incorporated into an RNA molecule, thus causing the premature termination of its synthesis).