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

What else is Cordyceps known as?
Note that Cordyceps is also known as:
  • Cordyceps Sinensis
  • Cordyceps Militaris
  • Caterpillar Fungus
  • Cetepiller Mushroom
  • Summer grass-winter worm
  • Totsu kasu
  • Yarchakunbu
  • Aweto
Dosage information

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.

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References
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)
4.^CUNNINGHAM KG, MANSON W, SPRING FS, HUTCHINSON SACordycepin, a metabolic product isolated from cultures of Cordyceps militaris (Linn.) LinkNature.(1950 Dec 2)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
47.^Ji DB, Ye J, Li CL, Wang YH, Zhao J, Cai SQAntiaging effect of Cordyceps sinensis extractPhytother Res.(2009)