Bioupdate Research-Health Benefits of Medicinal Mushroom » Cordyceps

{#2024-04} Cordyceps Steven, Lawrence et al. – Cordycepin generally inhibits growth factor signal

mushroom — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:17:18 +0000

Cordycepin (30 deoxyadenosine) has been widely researched as a potential cancer therapy, but many diverse mechanisms of action have been proposed. Here, we confirm that cordycepin triphosphate is likely to be the active metabolite of cordycepin and that it consistently represses growth factor-induced gene expression. Bioinformatic analysis, quantitative PCR and western blotting confirmed that cordycepin blocks the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and/or MEK/ERK pathways in six cell lines and that AMPK activation is not required. The effects of cordycepin on translation through mTOR pathway repression were detectable within 30 min, indicating a rapid process. These data therefore indicate that cordycepin has a universal mechanism of action, acting as cordycepin triphosphate on an as yet unknown target molecule involved in growth factor signalling.

[#2019-05] Cordyceps Sun, Tingli et al. Cordyceps militaris Improves Chronic Kidney Disease_

mushroom — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 13:57:44 +0000

Cordyceps militaris may show good promise in protecting against chronic kidney disease (CKD) but the molecular mechanism remains unclear. CKD risk is associated with the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-kappa B (TLR4/NF-κB) signaling pathway. Cordycepin is the main component of Cordyceps militaris and may affect the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Cordycepin was prepared by preparative HPLC. CKD patients were assigned into Cordyceps militaris (COG, 100 mg daily) and placebo (CG) groups. Cordycepin activity was measured using human embryo kidney cells (HEK293T). Biochemical indices, the levels of TLR4, NF-κB, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), were measured by real-time qRT-PCR, or ELISA kits and or Western blot. After 3-month treatment, cordycepin reduced the levels of urinal protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine by 36 7%±8 6%, 12 5%±3 2%, and 18 3%±6 6%, respectively (P < 0 05). Cordyceps militaris improved lipid profile and redox capacity of CKD patients by reducing the serum levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C by 12 8%±3 6%, 15 7%±4 1%, and 16 5%±4 4% and increasing the HDL-C level by 10 1%±1 4% in the COG group when compared with the CG group, respectively (P < 0 05). The serum levels of cystatin-C (Cys-C), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were reduced by 14 0%±3 8%, 26 9%±12 3%, and 19 7%±7 9% while nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were increased by 12 5%±2 9% and 25 3%±13 4% in the COG group when compared with the CG group, respectively (P < 0 05). Cordycepin reduced the levels of TLR4, NF-κB, COX2, TNF-α, and IL-1β in HEK293T cells too (P < 0 05). However, cordycepin could not affect the levels anymore if TLR4 was silenced. Cordyceps militaris protected against CKD progression by affecting the TLR4/NF-κB lipid and redox signaling pathway via cordycepin.

[#2018-13] Cordyceps Li, Shang-Ze et al. Cordycepin for colorectal cancer

mushroom — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 19:36:26 +0000

Cordycepin, or 3′‑deoxyadenosine, is a derivative of the nucleoside adenosine. Initially extracted from the fungus Cordyceps militaris, cordycepin exhibits antitumor activity against certain cancer cell lines; however, the mechanism by which cordycepin counteracts colorectal cancer (CRC) remains poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to explore the underlying mechanisms of cordycepin against human CRC. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of cordycepin against colon cancer and in driving apoptosis, p53 and Bcl‑2‑like protein 4‑null (Bax‑/‑) colon cancer HCT116 cell lines were used. Cell viability and growth were repressed in a dose‑dependent manner in cells treated with cordycepin. Treatment with cordycepin resulted in increased apoptosis in HCT116 cells; however, flow cytometic analysis demonstrated that apoptosis was notably decreased in the Bax‑/‑ HCT116 cell lines, but not in the p53‑/‑ HCT116 cell lines. Furthermore, cordycepin exposure resulted in the translocation of Bax from the cytosol to the mitochondria and the subsequent release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. Results from the present study demonstrated that cordycepin inhibited colon cancer cell growth in vitro and this appears to be through the endogenous Bax‑dependent mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, which suggested a molecular mechanism for cordycepin against human colon cancer. These results indicated the possibility of cordycepin as a novel drug for the prevention of colon cancer.

[#2018-08] Cordyceps Jin, Ye et al. Anti-tumor and anti-metastatic roles of cordycepin

mushroom — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 19:49:22 +0000

Public interest in complementary and alternative medicine has been increased worldwide, due to its wide applications in cancer prevention and treatment. Cordycepin is one of the most common and crucial types of complementary and alternative medicine. Cordycepin (30-deoxyadenosine), a derivative of adenosine, was first isolated from medicine drug Cordyceps militaris. Cordycepin has been widely used as one compound for antitumor, which has been found to exert antiangiogenic, anti-metastatic, and antiproliferative effects, as well as inducing apoptosis. However, the mechanism of its anti-tumor activity is not well known. This review will clarify anti-tumor mechanisms of Cordycepin, which regulate signaling pathways related with tumor growth and metastasis. Cordycepin inhibit tumor growth via upregulating tumor apoptosis, inducing cell cycle arrest and targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs). Cordycepin regulates tumor microenvironment via suppressing tumor metastasis-related pathways. Thus, Cordycepins may be one of important supplement or substitute medicine drug for cancer treatment.

[#2017-12] Cordyceps Hwang, In-Hu et al. Cordycepin promotes apoptosis in renal carcinoma

mushroom — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 13:40:20 +0000

Cellular FLICE inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) is a key anti-apoptotic regulator that associates with the signaling complex downstream of NF-κB, negatively interfering with apoptotic signaling. The role of c-FLIP downregulation by negative regulation of NF-κB signaling during apoptosis is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that NF-κB-mediated c-FLIPL negatively regulates the JNK signaling pathway, and that cordycepin treatment of human renal cancer cells leads to apoptosis induction through c-FLIPL inhibition. TNF-α-induced inflammatory microenvironments stimulated NF-κB signaling and the c-FLIP long form (c-FLIPL) in TK-10 cells. Specifically, cordycepin inhibited TNF-α-mediated NF-κB activation, which induced renal cancer cell apoptosis. Cordycepin downregulated GADD45B and c-FLIPL, but upregulated MKK7 and phospho-JNK, by preventing nuclear mobilization of NF-κB. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of GADD45B in cordycepin-treated TK-10 cells considerably increased MKK7 compared to cordycepin alone. siRNA-mediated knockdown of c-FLIPL prevented TNF-α-induced JNK inactivation, whereas c-FLIPL overexpression inhibited cordycepin-mediated JNK activation. The JNK inhibitor SP600125 strongly inhibited Bax expression. In nude mice, cordycepin significantly decreased tumor volume. Taken together, the results indicate that cordycepin inhibits TNF-α-mediated NF-κB/GADD45B signaling, which activates the MKK7-JNK signaling pathway through inhibition of c-FLIPL expression, thus inducing TK-10 cell apoptosis.

[#2017-11] Cordyceps Panicker, Sangeetha et al. Cordyceps the Fungal Gold

mushroom — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:35:38 +0000

Cordyceps is an entomophagous medicinal mushroom that commands a price close to that of Gold or even more, it is believed that the price of this fungus reached USD $20,000 to 40,000 per kg in the international market. Cordyceps spp is mainly endemic to the Tibetian plateau including the adjoining high altitude areas of the central and East Himalayas that includes Nepal, Bhutan and India’s Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Himachal and Arunachal Pradesh. However certain species like Cordyceps militaris is said to be distributed worldwide from 0 to >2000 m a.s.l. The fungus attacks many lepidopteran larvae especially Thitarodes caterpillars and mummifies it. The larvae along with the mummified insect is highly valued for its medicinal property. The fungus initially navigates the weak body part of the larvae and then penetrates the insect integument which is composed of chitin or it may enter through the mouth region and then dispenses endotoxin to the larval blood, proliferates and finally mummifies the larvae and it’s stroma emerges through the larval head. Cordyceps sp is the world’s most efficient and expensive medicinal mushroom and considered as a
traditional Chinese medicine having multiple medicinal and pharmacological properties and is used to treat respiratory and immune disorders, pulmonary diseases, renal, liver and cardiovascular diseases, hyposexuality and hyperlipidema etc. With regard to the various medicinal properties this review is limited to the facts which is substantiated with proofs only. This review further deals with
the various methods of artificial production of the fungus.

[#2016-11] Cordyceps Wang, Ningqun et al. Herbal Medicine Cordyceps sinensis improves health related qualtiy of life in moderate to severe asthma

mushroom — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 14:23:24 +0000

Moderate-to-severe asthma has a substantial impact on the health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) of the patients. Cordyceps
sinensis is a traditional Chinese medicine that is evaluated clinically for the treatment of many diseases, such as chronic allograft
nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease, and lung fibrosis. In order to investigate the effects of Cordyceps sinensis on patients with
moderate-to-severe persistent asthma, 120 subjects were randomized to receive Corbin capsule containing Cordyceps sinensis
for 3 months (treatment group,

[#2016-02] Cordyceps Lin, Bao-quin Cordyceps as an Herbal Drug

mushroom — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 14:52:20 +0000

Cordyceps is the composite of a genus of fungus that grows on the larva of insects. To date,
more than 350 Cordyceps-related species have been found worldwide based on fungus and/or
insect host. However, since 1964, only Cordyceps sinensis has been recorded officially as an
herbal drug in Chinese pharmacopoeia. C. sinensis, known as Dongchongxiacao (winter-worm
summer-grass) in Chinese, is one of the most famous traditional Chinese medicines and
medicinal mushrooms. The fungus attacks the larva of some species of insects (Fam.
Hepialidae), and converts each larva to a sclerotium, from which the fruiting body grows.

[#2015-11] Cordyceps Dong, Caihong et al. Cordyceps in China

mushroom — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 16:12:27 +0000

Cordyceps, as a general term, describes a group of ascomycetous fungi growing on arthropods and other related fungi. Some cordyceps have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and cordyceps-derived products are currently a big industry in China. A number of medicinal and health products have been developed and extensively commercialized from natural Chinese cordyceps, its anamorphic fungus (Hirsutella sinensis), and other fungi known as Chinese cordyceps. The lack of a defined classification system for medicinal cordyceps fungi is a source of confusion in the industry and the public, and even among pharmaceutical scientists. This review summarizes the cordyceps fungi currently used in the industry in China with a special reference to clarify Chinese cordyceps and associated fungi. Cordyceps militaris, Cordyceps guangdongensis and Isaria cicadae are well recognized and commercialized cordyceps fungi in China. Except the natural Chinese cordyceps and its anamorphic fungus, Paecilomyces hepiali, Mortierella hepiali, Cephalosporium sinensis and Clonostachys rosea isolated from natural Chinese cordyceps are classified as Chinese cordyceps–associated fungi. P. hepiali is a cordyceps fungus based on current phylogenetic analysis of Hypocreales, while M. hepiali is a fungus in the Zygomycetes and should only be treated as associated fungus of Chinese cordyceps.
C. sinensis and C. rosea belong to the Hypocreales and their relationship to cordyceps fungi should be further studied. The exploitation of the resources of cordyceps fungi and their quality control in the industry should be major topics for future studies.

[#2015-10] Cordyceps Liu, Yi et al. The Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Actions of Cordyceps sinensis.pdf

mushroom — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 20:13:16 +0000

Cordyceps sinensis, also called DongChongXiaCao (winter worm, summer grass) in Chinese, is becoming increasingly popular and important in the public and scientific communities. This study summarizes the chemical constituents and their corresponding pharmacological actions of Cordyceps sinensis. Many bioactive components of Cordyceps sinensis have been extracted including nucleoside, polysaccharide, sterol, protein, amino acid, and polypeptide. In addition, these constituents’ corresponding pharmacological actions were also shown in the study such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumour, antiapoptosis, and immunomodulatory actions. Therefore can use different effects of C. sinensis against different diseases and provide reference for the study of Cordyceps sinensis in the future.