Cordyceps
•Last Updated: September 28 2022
Cordyceps is a mushroom used in Traditional Chinese Medicine that is touted to be anti-aging and pro-vitality; these quite vague claims have not yet been evaluated in human interventions. It can regulate testicular testosterone production, but has complex mechanisms.
Cordyceps is most often used for
Last Updated: September 28 2022
Note that Cordyceps is also known as:
- Cordyceps Sinensis
- Cordyceps Militaris
- Caterpillar Fungus
- Cetepiller Mushroom
- Summer grass-winter worm
- Totsu kasu
- Yarchakunbu
- Aweto
Cordyceps has been used in human trials in the dosage range of 1,000-3,000mg daily, either in one single dose or multiple doses with meals. There is no indication if this is the optimal dose or not, and it is uncertain if this dosage is even effective as some of the research has come back null.
What works and what doesn't?
Unlock the full potential of Examine
Latest ResearchRead all studies
1.^Ng TB, Wang HXPharmacological actions of Cordyceps, a prized folk medicineJ Pharm Pharmacol.(2005 Dec)
2.^Das SK, Masuda M, Sakurai A, Sakakibara MMedicinal uses of the mushroom Cordyceps militaris: current state and prospectsFitoterapia.(2010 Dec)
3.^Ling JY, Sun YJ, Zhang H, Lv P, Zhang CKMeasurement of cordycepin and adenosine in stroma of Cordyceps sp. by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE)J Biosci Bioeng.(2002)
4.^CUNNINGHAM KG, MANSON W, SPRING FS, HUTCHINSON SACordycepin, a metabolic product isolated from cultures of Cordyceps militaris (Linn.) LinkNature.(1950 Dec 2)
5.^Ahn YJ, Park SJ, Lee SG, Shin SC, Choi DHCordycepin: selective growth inhibitor derived from liquid culture of Cordyceps militaris against Clostridium sppJ Agric Food Chem.(2000 Jul)
6.^Li SP, Li P, Dong TT, Tsim KWAnti-oxidation activity of different types of natural Cordyceps sinensis and cultured Cordyceps myceliaPhytomedicine.(2001 May)
7.^Li C, Yan A, Cai C, Liu ZFast determination of adenosine and cordycepin in Cordyceps and its deserted solid mediumSe Pu.(2012 Jul)
8.^Rao YK, Fang SH, Wu WS, Tzeng YMConstituents isolated from Cordyceps militaris suppress enhanced inflammatory mediator's production and human cancer cell proliferationJ Ethnopharmacol.(2010 Sep 15)
9.^Wu JY, Zhang QX, Leung PHInhibitory effects of ethyl acetate extract of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium on various cancer cells in culture and B16 melanoma in C57BL/6 micePhytomedicine.(2007 Jan)
10.^Choi JW, Ra KS, Kim SY, Yoon TJ, Yu KW, Shin KS, Lee SP, Suh HJEnhancement of anti-complementary and radical scavenging activities in the submerged culture of Cordyceps sinensis by addition of citrus peelBioresour Technol.(2010 Aug)
11.^Dong JZ, Ding J, Yu PZ, Lei C, Zheng XJ, Wang YComposition and distribution of the main active components in selenium-enriched fruit bodies of Cordyceps militaris linkFood Chem.(2013 Apr 15)
12.^Wong JH, Ng TB, Wang H, Sze SC, Zhang KY, Li Q, Lu XCordymin, an antifungal peptide from the medicinal fungus Cordyceps militarisPhytomedicine.(2011 Mar 15)
13.^Park BT, Na KH, Jung EC, Park JW, Kim HHAntifungal and Anticancer Activities of a Protein from the Mushroom Cordyceps militarisKorean J Physiol Pharmacol.(2009 Feb)
14.^Hsu CC, Huang YL, Tsai SJ, Sheu CC, Huang BMIn vivo and in vitro stimulatory effects of Cordyceps sinensis on testosterone production in mouse Leydig cellsLife Sci.(2003 Sep 5)
15.^Zhang J, Yu Y, Zhang Z, Ding Y, Dai X, Li YEffect of polysaccharide from cultured Cordyceps sinensis on immune function and anti-oxidation activity of mice exposed to 60CoInt Immunopharmacol.(2011 Dec)
16.^Wang SH, Yang WB, Liu YC, Chiu YH, Chen CT, Kao PF, Lin CMA potent sphingomyelinase inhibitor from Cordyceps mycelia contributes its cytoprotective effect against oxidative stress in macrophagesJ Lipid Res.(2011 Mar)
17.^Lee JS, Kwon JS, Won DP, Lee JH, Lee KE, Lee SY, Hong EKStudy of macrophage activation and structural characteristics of purified polysaccharide from the fruiting body of Cordyceps militarisJ Microbiol Biotechnol.(2010 Jul)
18.^Wang Y, Wang M, Ling Y, Fan W, Wang Y, Yin HStructural determination and antioxidant activity of a polysaccharide from the fruiting bodies of cultured Cordyceps sinensisAm J Chin Med.(2009)
19.^Koh JH, Kim KM, Kim JM, Song JC, Suh HJAntifatigue and antistress effect of the hot-water fraction from mycelia of Cordyceps sinensisBiol Pharm Bull.(2003 May)
20.^Hsu CC, Tsai SJ, Huang YL, Huang BMRegulatory mechanism of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium on mouse Leydig cell steroidogenesisFEBS Lett.(2003 May 22)
21.^Huang BM, Hsu CC, Tsai SJ, Sheu CC, Leu SFEffects of Cordyceps sinensis on testosterone production in normal mouse Leydig cellsLife Sci.(2001 Oct 19)
22.^Wong KL, So EC, Chen CC, Wu RS, Huang BMRegulation of steroidogenesis by Cordyceps sinensis mycelium extracted fractions with (hCG) treatment in mouse Leydig cellsArch Androl.(2007 Mar-Apr)
23.^Leu SF, Poon SL, Pao HY, Huang BMThe in vivo and in vitro stimulatory effects of cordycepin on mouse leydig cell steroidogenesisBiosci Biotechnol Biochem.(2011)
24.^Chang Y, Jeng KC, Huang KF, Lee YC, Hou CW, Chen KH, Cheng FY, Liao JW, Chen YSEffect of Cordyceps militaris supplementation on sperm production, sperm motility and hormones in Sprague-Dawley ratsAm J Chin Med.(2008)
25.^Huang YL, Leu SF, Liu BC, Sheu CC, Huang BMIn vivo stimulatory effect of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium and its fractions on reproductive functions in male mouseLife Sci.(2004 Jul 16)
26.^Ohta Y, Lee JB, Hayashi K, Fujita A, Park DK, Hayashi TIn vivo anti-influenza virus activity of an immunomodulatory acidic polysaccharide isolated from Cordyceps militaris grown on germinated soybeansJ Agric Food Chem.(2007 Dec 12)
27.^Li XT, Li HC, Li CB, Dou DQ, Gao MBProtective effects on mitochondria and anti-aging activity of polysaccharides from cultivated fruiting bodies of Cordyceps militarisAm J Chin Med.(2010)
28.^Xiao JH, Xiao DM, Chen DX, Xiao Y, Liang ZQ, Zhong JJPolysaccharides from the Medicinal Mushroom Cordyceps taii Show Antioxidant and Immunoenhancing Activities in a D-Galactose-Induced Aging Mouse ModelEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
29.^Yu HM, Wang BS, Huang SC, Duh PDComparison of protective effects between cultured Cordyceps militaris and natural Cordyceps sinensis against oxidative damageJ Agric Food Chem.(2006 Apr 19)
31.^Zhao-Long W1, Xiao-Xia W, Wei-Ying CInhibitory effect of Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris on human glomerular mesangial cell proliferation induced by native LDLCell Biochem Funct.(2000 Jun)
32.^Shahed AR1, Kim SI, Shoskes DADown-regulation of apoptotic and inflammatory genes by Cordyceps sinensis extract in rat kidney following ischemia/reperfusionTransplant Proc.(2001 Sep)
33.^Ding C1, Tian P, Jia L, Li Y, Ding X, Xiang H, Xue W, Zhao YThe synergistic effects of C. Sinensis with CsA in preventing allograft rejectionFront Biosci (Landmark Ed).(2009 Jan 1)
34.^Jordan JL1, Hirsch GM, Lee TDC. sinensis ablates allograft vasculopathy when used as an adjuvant therapy with cyclosporin ATranspl Immunol.(2008 Jul)
35.^Li Y1, Xue WJ, Tian PX, Ding XM, Yan H, Pan XM, Feng XSClinical application of Cordyceps sinensis on immunosuppressive therapy in renal transplantationTransplant Proc.(2009 Jun)
36.^Sun M1, Yang YR, Lu YP, Gao R, Wang L, Wang J, Tang KClinical study on application of bailing capsule after renal transplantationZhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi.(2004 Sep)
37.^Choi S, Lim MH, Kim KM, Jeon BH, Song WO, Kim TWCordycepin-induced apoptosis and autophagy in breast cancer cells are independent of the estrogen receptorToxicol Appl Pharmacol.(2011 Dec 1)
38.^Jin CY, Kim GY, Choi YHInduction of apoptosis by aqueous extract of Cordyceps militaris through activation of caspases and inactivation of Akt in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 CellsJ Microbiol Biotechnol.(2008 Dec)
39.^Jiang J, Sliva DNovel medicinal mushroom blend suppresses growth and invasiveness of human breast cancer cellsInt J Oncol.(2010 Dec)
40.^Bommareddy A, Hahm ER, Xiao D, Powolny AA, Fisher AL, Jiang Y, Singh SVAtg5 regulates phenethyl isothiocyanate-induced autophagic and apoptotic cell death in human prostate cancer cellsCancer Res.(2009 Apr 15)
41.^Jordan JL, Nowak A, Lee TDActivation of innate immunity to reduce lung metastases in breast cancerCancer Immunol Immunother.(2010 May)
42.^Huang H, Wang H, Luo RCInhibitory effects of cordyceps extract on growth of colon cancer cellsZhong Yao Cai.(2007 Mar)
43.^Han ES, Oh JY, Park HJCordyceps militaris extract suppresses dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis in mice and production of inflammatory mediators from macrophages and mast cellsJ Ethnopharmacol.(2011 Apr 12)
44.^Rao YK, Fang SH, Tzeng YMEvaluation of the anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferation tumoral cells activities of Antrodia camphorata, Cordyceps sinensis, and Cinnamomum osmophloeum bark extractsJ Ethnopharmacol.(2007 Oct 8)
45.^Lee SJ, Kim SK, Choi WS, Kim WJ, Moon SKCordycepin causes p21WAF1-mediated G2/M cell-cycle arrest by regulating c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation in human bladder cancer cellsArch Biochem Biophys.(2009 Oct 15)
46.^Lee EJ, Kim WJ, Moon SKCordycepin suppresses TNF-alpha-induced invasion, migration and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression in human bladder cancer cellsPhytother Res.(2010 Dec)
47.^Ji DB, Ye J, Li CL, Wang YH, Zhao J, Cai SQAntiaging effect of Cordyceps sinensis extractPhytother Res.(2009)
Primary Use
Secondary Use