Cordyceps

Other common names: Chinese caterpillar fungus, dong
chong xia cao
Latin name: Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc.
[Clavicipitaceae]
Plant part: Fungal mycelium


Cordyceps sinensis is a parasitic fungus that grows on several species
of caterpillars found in the Tibetan highlands. The traditional
remedy is a composite, consisting of the fungal body as well as the
caterpillar larva. This natural material known as caterpillar fungus,
dong chong xia cao, is rare. Therefore, Chinese scientists have developed
a technique for isolating fermentable strains of the fungus. The
result is a strain called Cs-4 that has been extensively characterized
and its pharmacological actions researched. The active components
of cordyceps have yet to be identified; however, cordycepin (3-
deoxyadenosine) and cordycepic acid (actually d-mannitol) may play
a role (Zhu, Halpern, and Jones, 1998a).
CordyMax® Cs-4 is a cordyceps product produced by Pharmanex,
LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. Each
capsule contains 525 mg of fungal mycelium Cs-4. Cs-4 is available
in China in a commercial product called JinShuiBao.


Cordyceps is reported to have a tonic effect in humans, reducing
fatigue, intolerance to cold, dizziness, tinnitus, and memory loss,
while increasing respiratory capacity. Treatments with cordyceps are
associated with increased libido, lowered levels of blood lipid levels
and blood sugar levels, as well as improved respiratory function, renal
function, liver function, and kidney function (Zhu, Halpern, and
Jones, 1998b).

Hyperlipidemia (Elevated Blood Lipid Levels)

The study on hypolipidemic effects was a large placebo-controlled
study completed in China. The study included 273 patients with
hyperlipidemia, including 215 with elevated cholesterol and 245 with
elevated triglycerides. Patients were treated with three (330 mg mycelium)
capsules three times daily for two months. Cordyceps lowered
total cholesterol levels by 17.5 percent and trigylcerides by 9.2
percent. High-density lipoprotein levels were increased by 27.2 percent.
All changes were statistically significant compared to the placebo
group levels (Shao, 1995). Our reviewer, Dr. David Heber, concluded
that this clinical effect could be significant and deserves
repetition. The trial report was an internal Pharmanex document and
did not include details such as the baseline lipid levels for the participants.


Asthenia Syndrome (Symptoms Associated with Aging)

The second trial included 59 men and women, 60 to 84 years old,
and studied symptoms of aging known in traditional Chinese medicine
as asthenia syndrome (Xu-Zheng). The symptoms included fatigue,
intolerance to cold, dizziness, tinnitus, pain in loins, hyposexuality,
urinary terminal dribbling, amnesia, alopecia (hair loss), and loosened
teeth. After three months of treatment with a dose of three (330
mg mycelium) capsules three times daily, the symptom score was reduced
compared with the placebo group. There was improvement in
lassitude of loins and legs, intolerance to cold, cold in extremities,
dizziness, tinnitus, and frequency of nocturia. Therewas no change intioxidant
alopecia, loosened teeth, hyposexuality, or amnesia. Levels of the an
superoxide dismutase (SOD) in red blood cells was increased,
and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma were decreased,
compared to baseline levels (Zhang et al., 1995). Dr. Heber
concluded that the therapeutic benefit was undetermined due to the
subjective outcome measures and other methodological inadequacies.