Cordyceps Extracts and the Major Ingredient, Cordycepin: Possible Cellular Mechanisms of Their Therapeutic Effects on Respiratory Disease

Abstract

Cordyceps militaris (CM), also known as the caterpillar fungus, is a well-known, traditional Chinese medicine that can be artificially cultivated on a large scale (Fig. 1). In recent decades, CM extract has been reported to have different biological activities, such as antitumor activity (Park et al., 2009) and immunomodulation (Shin et al., 2010). Similar to Cordyceps sinensis (CS), an expensive, wild-fruiting species of Cordyceps, CM can be used to treat certain respiratory diseases, such as asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Paterson, 2008). In contrast to CS, CM can be artificially cultivated on a large scale and hence is much cheaper to produce. While CM has medicinal properties similar to CS, it is widely used as a substitute for CS in health supplements. A recent clinical trial demonstrated that naturally grown and cultivated mycelia of Cordyceps are effective for the treatment of asthma (Wang et al., 2007). In addition to the treatment of respiratory diseases, CM has beneficial therapeutic effects for patients with influenza A viral infections (Ohta et al., 2007).