"The caterpillar fungus or Tochukaso has been highly regarded in Chinese medicine for many centuries. It is not a mushroom type fungus and the fruiting structure cannot be cultivated or cultured. The complete structure can be used in many forms, whole, powdered or extracted and has many applications in Chinese medicine (Hobbs, 1995; Halpern, 1999). Anti-cancer polysaccharides have been isolated from several species of Cordyceps and some have been shown to have hypoglycaemic activity as well (Jones, 1997; Itami and Yahagi, 1990; Kun 1998). A major concern with herbal medicine using Cordyceps collected from nature is quality and safety.
However, the pure mycelium of these parasitic fungi can now be easily cultivated in fermentors and is attracting considerable interest as an agent to treat fatigue and improve motor function (Mizuno, 1999). The major chemical, pharmacological and toxicological studies on Cordyceps sinensis have been reviewed for English and Chinese literature by Zhu et al. (1988a,b). These studies show that the main activities of the fungus are in oxygen-free-radical scavenging.
With this particular fungus it is clear that there will be increased usage of fermenter-produced mycelium. Such methods use selected media under aseptic conditions, providing better quality and homogeneity through process control.
Key active constituents:
Galactomannans (antitumour, immunostimulating)
Cordycepin
Sterols"[1]
Benefits
"Animal, human, and in vitro studies confirm that this mushroom enhances aerobic capacity and cellular energy stores, reduces myocardial (heart muscle) oxygen consumption, lowers cholesterol, prevents damage to cells caused by free radicals, and normalizes immune function. In human studies, cordyceps was found to prevent immunosuppression and help restore normal macrophage and natural killer (NK) cell activity. In one study, it helped reduce tumor size in 50 percent of the patients." [2]
"Cordyceps has also been found to improve lung function and symptoms of chronic bronchitis."[3]
[1] Medicinal mushrooms: their therapeutic properties and current medical usage with special emphasis on cancer treatments. Chapter 3C
[2](Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief
, pg. 152)[3](Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief
, pg. 153)
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