Common name: Caterpillar fungus, Deer fungus parasite,
Chongcao
Botanical names: Cordyceps spp.
© Martin Wall
Parts used and where grown
Cordyceps sinensis in its sexual stage is the primary form used.1 However, more
than ten related species (in sexual and asexual stages) as well as artificially cultured
mycelium are today used as substitutes in commercial preparations. C. sinensis,
C. ophioglossoides, C. capita, and C. militaris are the most common
species in commerce.
Cordyceps has been used in
connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual
health concern for complete information):
Historical or traditional use (may
or may not be supported by scientific studies)
In ancient China, cordyceps was used in the Emperor’s palace and was considered to
have ginseng-like properties.2 It was used to strengthen the body after exhaustion
or long-term illness, and for impotence, neurasthenia, and backache. It was also used to cure
opium addiction.
Active constituents
Cordyceps contains a wide variety of potentially important constituents, including
polysaccharides, ophiocordin (an antibiotic compound), cordycepin, cordypyridones,
nucleosides, bioxanthracenes, sterols, alkenoic acids, and exo-polymers.3
4 5 6 7 8 9
Many studies on the medicinal effects of cordyceps do not give a clear picture of its
actions because many of the studies (1) are in animals or test tubes; (2) use different
species, preparations, and intake levels; (3) inject cordyceps and/or its constituents rather
than administering them orally; or (4) are not available in English and, therefore, cannot be
reviewed for accuracy and design.
There are some clinical trials supporting the efficacy of cordyceps, particularly for
liver, kidney, and immune problems. A number of studies indicate that cordyceps may have a
anti-cancer, anti-metastatic, immuno-enhancing, and antioxidant effects.10
11 12 13 14
How much is usually taken?
The recommended intake of cordyceps is 3 to 9 grams taken twice daily as a liquid extract,
as food, or as powdered extract.15
Are there any side effects or interactions?
There are insufficient studies on the safety of cordyceps. However, it has a long history
of use as a food and is generally considered safe.16 There is no information
available about safety in pregnancy, lactation, or use in children.
There are two reported cases of lead poisoning associated with the use of apparently
contaminated cordyceps powder.17 Cordyceps should only be purchased from companies
that test to exclude heavy metal contamination.
At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions
with cordyceps.
References:1. Yue QC, Ning W, Hui Z, Liang HQ. Differentiation of medicinal
Cordyceps species by rDNA ITS sequence analysis. Planta Med 2002;68:635–39.
2. Hobbs C. Medicinal Mushrooms: An exploration of tradition, healing
and culture. Santa Cruz, CA: Botanica Press, 1995.
3. Ling YJ, Sun YJ, Zhang LvP, Zhang CK. Measurement of cordycepin and
adenosine in stroma of Cordyceps sp. by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). J Biosci
Bioeng 2002;94:371–74.
4. Yuan YS, Zhang L, Xu XF, et al. Determination of nucleosides in
cordyceps by RP–HPLC. Chin Pharm J China 2002;37:776–8.
5. Isaka M, Tantichareon M, Thebtaranonth Y. Structures of cordypyridones
A-D, antimalarial N-hydroxy- and N-methoxy-2-pyridones from the insect pathogenic fungus
Cordyceps nipponica. J Org Chem 2001;66:4803–08.
6. Isaka M, Kongsaeree P, Thebtaranonth Y. Bioxanthracenes from the
insect pathogenic fungus Cordyceps pseudomilitaris BCC 1620 II. Structure
elucidation. J Antibiot 2001;54:36–43.
7. Isaka M, Tanticharoen M, Thebtaranonth Y. Cordyanhydrides A and B. Two
unique anhydrides from the insect pathogenic fungus Cordyceps pseudomilitaris BCC
1620. Tetrahedron Lett 2000;41:1657–60.
8. Kim DH, Yang BK, Jeong SC, et al. A preliminary study on the
hypoglycemic effect of the exo-polymers produced by five different medicinal mushrooms. J
Microbiol Biotechn 2001;11:167–71.
9. Bok JW, Lermer L, Chilton J, et al. Antitumor sterols from the mycelia
of Cordyceps sinensis. Phytochem 1999;51:891–898.
10. Nakamura K, Yamaguchi Y, Kagota S, et al. Activation of in vivo
Kupffer cell function by oral administration of Cordyceps sinensis in rats. Jpn J
Pharmacol 1999;79:505–8.
11. Nakamura K, Yamaguchi Y, Kagota S, et al. Inhibitory effect of
Cordyceps sinensis on spontaneous liver metastasis of Lewis lung carcinoma and B16
melanoma cells in syngenic mice. Jpn J Pharmacol 1999;79:335–41.
12. Lui JL, Lui RY. Enhancement of cordyceps tail polysaccharide on
cellular immunological function in vitro. Chin Pharm J China 2001;36:738–41 [in
Chinese].
13. Shin KH, Lim SS, Lee SH, et al. Antioxidant and immunostimulating
activities of the fruiting bodies of Paecilomyces japonica, a new type of Cordyceps
sp. Ann NY Acad Sci 2001;928:261–73.
14. Yamaguchi Y, Kagota S, Nakamura K, et al. Antioxidant activity of the
extracts from fruiting bodies of cultured Cordyceps sinensis. Phytother Res
2000;14:647–9.
15. Hobbs C. Medicinal Mushrooms: An exploration of tradition,
healing and culture. Santa Cruz, CA: Botanica Press, 1995.
16. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A. American Herbal
Products Association’s Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press,
1998.
17. Wu TN, Yang KC, Wang CM, et al. Lead poisoning caused by contaminated
Cordyceps, a Chinese herbal medicine: Two case reports. Sci Total Environ
1996;182:193–5.