[#2008-17] Cordyceps Paterson, R. Russe...

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are growing in popularity. However, are they effective? Cordyceps is not studied as systematically for bioactivity as another TCM, Ganoderma. Cordyceps is fascinating per se, especially because of the pathogenic lifestyle on Lepidopteron insects. The combination of the fungus and dead insect has been used as a TCM for centuries. However, the natural fungus has been harvested to the extent that it is an endangered species. The effectiveness has been attributed to the Chinese philosophical concept of Yin and Yang and can this be...

[#2008-02] Cordyceps Holliday, John et a...

Medicinal Value of the Caterpillar Fungi Species of the Genus Cordyceps (Fr.) Link (Ascomycetes). A Review John Holliday* & Matt Cleaver ABSTRACT: This review looks in depth at the history and medicinal value of the Cordyceps spe­cies, especially C. sinensis. 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...

[#2005-03] Maitake, Lull, Cristina et al...

Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulating Properties of Fungal Metabolites Cristina Lull,1 Harry J. Wichers,1 and Huub F. J. Savelkoul2 1Agrotechnology and Food Innovations, Wageningen University and Research Center, Bornsesteeg 59, 6708 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands 2Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University and Research Center, Marijkeweg 40, 6709 PG Wageningen, The Netherlands Received 22 December 2004; accepted 25 January 2005 We discuss current information on the ability of extracts and isolated metabolites from mushrooms such as Ganoderma lucidum...

[#2003-01] Inhibitive effect of cordycep...

Inhibitive effect of cordyceps sinensis on experimental hepatic fibrosis and its possible mechanism Yu-Kan Liu, Wei Shen Department of Gastroenterology, the Second affiliated hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences,China   Abstract AIM: To investigate the inhibitive effect and its possible mechanism of Cordyceps Sinensis (CS) on CCl4-plus ethanol-induced hepatic fibrogenesis in experimental rats. METHODS: Rats were randomly allocated into a normal control group, a model control group and a CS group. The latter two groups were administered with CCl4 and...

[#2000-01] Pharmacological Functions of ...

Pharmacological Functions of Chinese Medicinal Fungus Cordyceps sinensis and Related Species SHENG-YUAN WANG1,2 AND MING-SHI SHIAO1* 1. Department of Medical Research and Education, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan 2. Institute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan   ABSTRACT Cordyceps sinensis, an entomogenous fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine, exhibits very broad biological and pharmacologi­cal actions in hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, and immunologic systems as well as anticancer activity....

[#1999-01] Medicinal Effect and Utilizat...

Medicinal Effect and Utilization of Cordyceps (Fr.) Link (Ascomycetes) and lsaria Fr. (Mitosporic Fungi) Chinese Caterpillar Fungi, “Tochukaso” (Review)* Takashi Mizuno Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Japan ABSTRACT: Cordiceps (Fr.) Link species (Tochukaso in Japanese, Chinese caterpillar fungi) are a parasite on ci­cada larvae that forms its scleotium in the insect larvae. At present, the fruiting bodies of Cordyceps species are not cultivated or cultured. However, cultivation of mycelia of this...