Medicinal Value of The Caterpillar Fungi Species of The Genus Cordyceps (Fr.) Link (Ascomycetes).

By John Holliday and Matt Cleaver

 

The C. sinensis medicinal species, with a long history of use, has only been found growing from the head of one type of subterranean caterpillar, at high altitudes, in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. Because of this highly specific growth environment and restricted geographical distribution, C. sinensis has a long reputation of being the single-most expensive raw material used in Oriental Medicine. Due to environmental and ecological factors, the annual harvest has been steadily declining, while at the same time the worldwide demand has been increasing driving research to determine ways of cultivating it to make it a more affordable material for commercial trade. complicating this cultivation issue is the rarefied atmosphere, mineral-rich soil, and low temperature in which Cordyceps naturally grows, resulting in a unique profile of secondary metabolites possessing interesting biological potential for medical exploitation, but which are not readily reproduced in normal laboratory cultivation. A growing body of logical and empirical data is suggesting to many prominent researchers that C. sinensis actually has a symbiotic relationship with the host, and that the connection is mutually beneficial, rather than pathogenic. There are currently more than 680 documented species of Cordyceps 3,4,6 found on all six inhabited continents and in many climatic zones and habitats and feeding off a range of hosts. One manufacturer is even growing Cordyceps in an artificial environment exactly replicating the natural growth conditions of Cordyceps (the high-altitude air composition and low temperature found on the Himalayan plateau). Another issue has been raised regarding the quality of Cordyceps lead contamination, stemming from lead poisoning. Better quality Cordyceps traditionally had fewer inserted sticks, however, the practice has been so widespread for so long that it is virtually impossible to find wild collected Cordyceps without these fillers inserted. This is probably a harmless practice, as long as the object inserted is from a nontoxic source. Cordyceps spp. contains a broad range of compounds that are considered nutritional. It contains all of the essential amino acids, vitamins E and K, and the water-soluble vitamins B1, B2, and B12. In addition, it contains many sugars, including mono-, di-, and oligosaccharides, and many complex polysaccharides, proteins, sterols, nucleosides, and macro- and microelements.Therapuetic applications indications and usage are for fatigue, preclinical and clinical data, cancer, immunomodulating effects, kidney ailments, hypoglycemic effect, lung ailments, heart ailments, liver ailments, hypercholesterolemia, treatment for male or female sexual dysfunction, and use against HIV/AIDS.