Cordyceps sinensis is the botanical name of a mushroom, an ascomycete characteristic of Chinese medicine, which gives it tonic-invigorating properties, useful for increasing body energy, stimulating the immune system and improving physical resistance.
The first documents relating to the use of Cordyceps in Chinese folk medicine date back to 1760 BC; however, it took until September 1993 to see the mushroom rise to the headlines in the Western news. In those days, during the Chinese national swimming games in Beijing, three world records were broken in 1500, 3000 and 10000 meters.The physical structure of the swimmers and their amazing performances raised suspicions about a probable use of anabolic substances, but the anti-doping tests denied this hypothesis.
The etymology of the botanical name Cordyceps sinensis can be traced back to the Latin cord "stick", ceps "head" and sinensis "from China. In the United States, this mushroom is instead known as "caterpillar fungus", due to a very particular and certainly not inviting biological cycle; the cordyceps, in fact, parasites the larva of some moths in the subsoil (above all Hepialus armoricanus) typical of the Tibetan plateaus (3000-5000 meters above sea level, Qinghai plateau). After germinating inside the larva, the cordyceps kills and mummifies the organism until it escapes through its head. Not surprisingly, cordyceps is known in China as "DongChongXiaCao" and in Japan as "Tockukaso", which means "worm of winter" and plant of "summer". Since the larvae are infected with fungi in the summer and autumn months, then consumed by the mycelia and transformed into "stiff worms" during the winter, cordyceps are called "winter worms" (DongChong); after which, during the spring and summer of "next year, the fungus stroma emerges from the ground, piercing the head of the larva; hence the term" summer grass "(XiaCao). Due to the rarity of this mushroom and its exceptional "curative" effects, several mycelia (vegetative systems) have been isolated to produce the mushroom through fermentation technologies; today, most of the cordyceps on the market has therefore been grown in a similar way to other mushrooms.
Increase sexual activity, both in the male and in the female;
reduce total cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol;
improve physical performance, especially in states of increased stress; cordyceps can therefore prove useful for athletes and for those who complain of reduced physical efficiency and poor ability to concentrate;
hepatoprotective effect, with potential implications not only preventive, but also therapeutic in the presence of viral hepatitis, hepatic steatosis, liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis;
antihypertensive effect, with increased cardiovascular health; it can be helpful in the presence of myocardial ischemia, atherosclerosis and related diseases;
improve kidney function;
rebalance blood sugar by lowering blood glucose levels;
modulate the sleep-wake cycle in the presence of difficulty falling asleep, thanks to a possible sedative effect on the central nervous system.
In recent decades, various researches have attempted to characterize the active ingredients of Cordyceps sinensis, while evaluating the scientific veracity of its alleged health properties and applications. Most of these studies were conducted in China and seem to confirm - especially in vitro and on animal models - much of the properties ascribed to cordyceps by local folk medicine; however, it is desirable to carry out clinical trials to confirm all these "miraculous" properties also in humans.
The chemical analysis of cordiceps highlights - an excellent lipid content (57.84% of unsaturated fats, especially linoleic and oleic, 42.16% of saturated fats, captained by palmitic), proteins (29.1-33%), trace elements, vitamins and polysaccharides ( 3-8%). Although the active ingredients of cordyceps have not yet been clearly identified, at least two substances have been identified as important active constituents; we are talking about cordycepin, structurally very similar to D-mannitol, and cordycepic acid, structurally similar to 3-deoxyadenosine. Equally important in determining the pharmacological activities of cordyceps seems to be its polysaccharide component, in which galactomannan abounds. Other bioactive compounds include nucleosides (Adenosine, Guanosine and Uridine) and phytosterols (ergosterol, an important precursor of vitamin D2). Finally, among metals, elements such as zinc, magnesium and manganese abound, which from a physiological point of view are very important for the development and maintenance of the gonads.
Published studies seem to confirm the properties of Cordyceps (especially in vitro and on animal models), in particular its immunomodulatory and antitumor effect, hypoglycemic, antihypertensive, promoter of hepatic, cardiac and renal function and health, anti-aging, aphrodisiac, hypocholesterolemic, regulator of the sleep-wake cycle, antitussive, expectorant and antiasthmatic.
Even the sportsman could benefit from the effects of Cordyceps, which has been shown to be useful in promoting tissue oxygenation, through the relaxation of the bronchial, bronchiolar and vessel wall muscles; the increase in blood flow in the muscles and heart, the most effective use of oxygen by the body (increase in VO2max), and the positive action on the functionality of the immune system, make Cordyceps a supplement suitable especially for athletes engaged in endurance activities.
Cordyceps has proven to be a safe and well tolerated supplement, free from toxic effects or other risks; as with the vast majority of supplements, only isolated cases of mild gastric disturbances resulting from the ingestion of cordyceps-based products have been reported.
