[#2013-22] Cordyceps Lo, Hui-Chen et al. A Systematic Review of the Mysterious Caterpillar Fungus

The caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis), which was originally used in traditional Tibetan and
Chinese medicine, is called either “yartsa gunbu” or “DongChongXiaCao (冬蟲夏草 Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo)” (“winter wormsummer grass”), respectively. The extremely high price of DongChongXiaCao, approximately USD $20,000 to 40,000 per kg, has led to it being regarded as “soft gold” in China. The multi-fungi hypothesis has been proposed for DongChongXiaCao;
however, Hirsutella sinensis is the anamorph of O. sinensis. In Chinese, the meaning of “DongChongXiaCao” is different for O.
sinensis, Cordyceps spp., and Cordyceps sp . Over 30 bioactivities, such as immunomodulatory, antitumor, anti-inflammatory,
and antioxidant activities, have been reported for wild DongChongXiaCao and for the mycelia and culture supernatants of O.
sinensis. These bioactivities derive from over 20 bioactive ingredients, mainly extracellular polysaccharides, intracellular
polysaccharides, cordycepin, adenosine, mannitol, and sterols. Other bioactive components have been found as well, including
two peptides (cordymin and myriocin), melanin, lovastatin, γ-aminobutyric acid, and cordysinins. Recently, the bioactivities of O.
sinensis were described, and they include antiarteriosclerosis, antidepression, and antiosteoporosis activities, photoprotection,
prevention and treatment of bowel injury, promotion of endurance capacity, and learning-memory improvement. H. sinensis has
the ability to accelerate leukocyte recovery, stimulate lymphocyte proliferation, antidiabetes, and improve kidney injury. Starting
January 1 , 2013, regulation will dictate that one fungus can only have one name, which will end the system of using separate
names for anamorphs. The anamorph name “H. sinensis” has changed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae,
fungi, and plants to O. sinensis.