Cordyceps spp.: A Review on its Immune-Stimulatory and Other Biological Potentials

Author: mycolabadmin
2021-02-08
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Summary

Cordyceps is a fascinating medicinal mushroom that has been used in traditional Asian medicine for centuries. This research review examines its potential health benefits, particularly its ability to boost the immune system. The mushroom contains numerous beneficial compounds that can help fight inflammation, protect against oxidative stress, and potentially aid in treating various diseases. Impacts on everyday life: – Could provide a natural way to boost energy levels and combat fatigue – May help support healthy immune system function – Shows promise as a complementary treatment for diabetes and high cholesterol – Could offer natural support for reproductive health and sexual function – May provide antioxidant protection against cellular damage and aging

Background

Cordyceps species have been used in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine for centuries as an important source of energy. The genus belongs to Ascomycota and includes over 700 species that parasitize insects, arthropods and other fungi. In recent decades, interest has grown due to their immunostimulatory potential and other therapeutic properties. The name Cordyceps comes from Greek ‘kordyle’ meaning club and Latin ‘ceps’ meaning head.

Objective

This review aims to collect and analyze the state-of-the-art knowledge about the properties of Cordyceps species, with a special focus on their immunostimulatory properties. It covers ethnopharmacological properties, food applications, chemical compounds, extraction methods, and various pharmacological activities.

Results

The review found that Cordyceps species contain numerous bioactive compounds including nucleosides, sterols, flavonoids, cyclic peptides, phenolics, bioxanthracenes, polyketides and alkaloids. These compounds demonstrate various pharmacological activities including immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, antimetastatic, antiviral, hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, and aphrodisiac effects. The immunostimulatory effects involve cytokine production, phagocytosis stimulation, nitric oxide production, and inflammatory response modulation via MAPK pathway.

Conclusion

Cordyceps species contain diverse bioactive compounds with significant therapeutic potential, particularly for immune system modulation. While C. sinensis and C. militaris are the most studied species, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action, identify unknown compounds, develop new drug formulations, and conduct clinical trials to validate therapeutic applications. The genus shows promise for development of natural medicines, though additional toxicological and clinical studies are required.

Published in:Frontiers in Pharmacology,
Study Type:Review,
Source: 10.3389/fphar.2020.602364