CORDYCEPS - (CORDYCEPS MILITARIS)

• OVERVIEW: Lin B, Li S. Cordyceps as an Herbal Drug. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 5. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92758/
• NATURAL HISTORY: Greenwood, V. The worms that cost $20,000 a kilo. BBC Future 2016 [cited 2020 March 20]

Auto-Immune Disease & Tumors

• ANTIBIOTIC: Jong Ho Koh, J. H., Hyung Joo Suh, & Tae Seok Ahn. (2003, April 1). Hot-water extract from mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis as a substitute for antibiotic growth promoters. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1022893000418?error=cookies_not_supported&code=f2361ee5-ae6d-42ef-8c0f-5a8c81bce5f7
• LIVER CANCER: Guo, Z., et al., Cordycepin suppresses the migration and invasion of human liver cancer cells by downregulating the expression of CXCR4. Int J Mol Med, 2020. 45(1): p. 141-150.

Depression

• DEPRESSION: Yu-En Lin, Yi-Chun Chen, Kuan-Hung Lu, Yun-Ju Huang, Suraphan Panyod, Wei-Ting Liu, Shu-Hui Yang, Yun-Sheng Lu, Mei-Hsing Chen, Lee-Yan Sheen, Antidepressant-like effects of water extract of Cordyceps militaris (Linn.) Link by modulation of ROCK2/PTEN/Akt signaling in an unpredictable chronic mild stress-induced animal model, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 276, 2021, 114194, ISSN 0378-8741, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.114194. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874121004219
• DEPRESSION: Li, B., et al., 3'-Deoxyadenosine (Cordycepin) Produces a Rapid and Robust Antidepressant Effect via Enhancing Prefrontal AMPA Receptor Signaling Pathway. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol, 2016. 19(4).

Exercise Performance

• HIGH-INTENSITY EXERCISE: Hirsch, K. R., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Roelofs, E. J., Trexler, E. T., & Mock, M. G. (2017). Cordyceps militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise After Acute and Chronic Supplementation. Journal of dietary supplements, 14(1), 42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2016.1203386
• EXERCISE PERFORMANCE: Eunhyun Choi, Junsang Oh & Gi-Ho Sung (2020) Beneficial Effect of Cordyceps militaris on Exercise Performance via Promoting Cellular Energy Production, Mycobiology, 48:6, 512-517, DOI: 10.1080/12298093.2020.1831135
• AEROBIC CAPACITY + RESPIRATORY FUNCTION: Xiao Yi, X., Huang Xi-zhen, & Zhu Jia-shi. (2004, September 1). Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial and assessment of fermentation product of Cordyceps sinensis (Cs-4) in enhancing aerobic capacity and respiratory function of the healthy elderly volunteers. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02836405?error=cookies_not_supported&code=66eb0adc-62e2-411b-b9d7-f273a5368f42
• EXERCISE ENDURANCE: Rajesh Kumar, P.S. Negi, Bhagwat Singh, Govindasamy Ilavazhagan, Kalpana Bhargava, Niroj Kumar Sethy. (2011, July 14). Cordyceps sinensis promotes exercise endurance capacity of rats by activating skeletal muscle metabolic regulators. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874111002923?via%3Dihub

Hormones & Sexual Health

• SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION: Jiraungkoorskul, Kanitta, and Wannee Jiraungkoorskul. “Review of Naturopathy of Medical Mushroom, Ophiocordyceps Sinensis, in Sexual Dysfunction.” Pharmacognosy reviews vol. 10,19 (2016): 1-5. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.176566
• SEXUAL HEALTH: Kusama K, Miyagawa M, Ota K, Kuwabara N, Saeki K, Ohnishi Y, Kumaki Y, Aizawa T, Nakasone T, Okamatsu S, Miyaoka H, Tamura K. Cordyceps militaris Fruit Body Extract Decreases Testosterone Catabolism and Testosterone-Stimulated Prostate Hypertrophy. Nutrients. 2020 Dec 26;13(1):50. doi: 10.3390/nu13010050. PMID: 33375244; PMCID: PMC7824671.  
• INFERTILITY: Li Y, Liang W, Han Y, Zhao W, Wang S, Qin C. Triterpenoids and Polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum Improve the Histomorphology and Function of Testes in Middle-Aged Male Mice by Alleviating Oxidative Stress and Cellular Apoptosis. Nutrients. 2022 Nov 9;14(22):4733. doi: 10.3390/nu14224733. PMID: 36432421; PMCID: PMC9696538. 
• ESTROGEN: Zhang DW, Wang ZL, Qi W, Zhao GY. The effects of Cordyceps sinensis phytoestrogen on estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Dec 13;14:484. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-484. PMID: 25496560; PMCID: PMC4302055. 

Inflammation & Arthritis

• ANTI-INFLAMMATORY: Tan L, Song X, Ren Y, Wang M, Guo C, Guo D, Gu Y, Li Y, Cao Z, Deng Y. Anti-inflammatory effects of cordycepin: A review. Phytother Res. 2020 Oct 8. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6890. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33090621.  
• RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: Noh EM, Kim JS, Hur H, Park BH, Song EK, Han MK, Kwon KB, Yoo WH, Shim IK, Lee SJ, Youn HJ, Lee YR. Cordycepin inhibits IL-1beta-induced MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2009 Jan;48(1):45-8. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/ken417. PMID: 19056796.
• IMMUNOMODULATION: Shin, S., et al., Role of Cordycepin and Adenosine on the Phenotypic Switch of Macrophages via Induced Anti-inflammatory Cytokines. Immune Netw, 2009. 9 (6): p. 255-64.

Respiratory Conditions

• RESPIRATORY FUNCTION: Yi, X., Xi-zhen, H. & Jia-shi, Z. Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial and assessment of fermentation product of Cordyceps sinensis (Cs-4) in enhancing aerobic capacity and respiratory function of the healthy elderly volunteers. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 10, 187–192 (2004)
• COPD: Yang, Lei et al. “Cordyceps sinensis inhibits airway remodeling in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.” Experimental and therapeutic medicine vol. 15,3 (2018): 2731-2738. doi:10.3892/etm.2018.5777
• COPD: Yu X, Mao Y, Shergis JL, Coyle ME, Wu L, Chen Y, Zhang AL, Lin L, Xue CC, Xu Y. Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Cordyceps sinensis on Stable COPD of GOLD Stages 2-3: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Apr 3;2019:4903671. doi: 10.1155/2019/4903671. PMID: 31073318; PMCID: PMC6470429. 
• COPD: Yang L, Jiao X, Wu J, Zhao J, Liu T, Xu J, Ma X, Cao L, Liu L, Liu Y, Chi J, Zou M, Li S, Xu J, Dong L. Cordyceps sinensis inhibits airway remodeling in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Exp Ther Med. 2018 Mar;15(3):2731-2738. doi: 10.3892/etm.2018.5777. Epub 2018 Jan 19. PMID: 29456676; PMCID: PMC5795554. 

• COPD: Springer J, Scholz FR, Peiser C, Groneberg DA, Fischer A. SMAD-signaling in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: transcriptional down-regulation of inhibitory SMAD 6 and 7 by cigarette smoke. Biol Chem. 2004 Jul;385(7):649-53. doi: 10.1515/BC.2004.080. PMID: 15318814.

• ASTHMA: Zheng, Y., L. Li, and T. Cai, Cordyceps polysaccharide ameliorates airway inflammation in an ovalbumin-induced mouse model of asthma via TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. Respir Physiol Neurobiol, 2020. 276: p. 103412.

• ASTHMA: Wang N, Li J, Huang X, Chen W, Chen Y. Herbal Medicine Cordyceps sinensis Improves Health-Related Quality of Life in Moderate-to-Severe Asthma. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:6134593. doi: 10.1155/2016/6134593. Epub 2016 Dec 5. PMID: 28050193; PMCID: PMC5165155.
• ASTHMA: Wang N, Li J, Huang X, Chen W, Chen Y. Herbal Medicine Cordyceps sinensis Improves Health-Related Quality of Life in Moderate-to-Severe Asthma. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:6134593. doi: 10.1155/2016/6134593. Epub 2016 Dec 5. PMID: 28050193; PMCID: PMC5165155.

• ASTHMA: Wang, N., et al., Herbal Medicine Cordyceps sinensis Improves Health-Related Quality of Life in Moderate-to-Severe Asthma. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016. 2016: p. 6134593.

• ASTHMA: Zheng, Y., L. Li, and T. Cai, Cordyceps polysaccharide ameliorates airway inflammation in an ovalbumin-induced mouse model of asthma via TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. Respir Physiol Neurobiol, 2020. 276: p. 103412.