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In 1983, galactomannan, a polysaccharide
isolated from C. cicadae was shown to prevent the growth
of Sarcoma 180 in mice (Ukai et al., 1983).
In addition, polysaccharides purified from Cordyceps
ophiglossoides have been reported as antitumor agents (Ohmari et
al., 1986, Yanada, 1984).
Thus, it is suggested that Cordyceps sp.
exhibits antitumor, antiviral, and many other biological
activities. Y.C.
Kuo, W.J. Tsai, M-S. Shia., C-F Chen and C-Y Lin, Cordyceps
sinensis as an Immunomodulatory Agent, American Journal of
Chinese Medicine, Vol. XXIV, No. 2, pp.111-125.
Effects of a water-soluble extract of Cordyceps sinensis on
steroidogenesis and capsular morphology of lipid droplets in
cultured rat adrenocortical cells. Cordyceps sinensis contains a
factor that stimulates corticosteroid production in the animal
model. However, it is not known whether this drug acts directly
on the adrenal glands or indirectly via the
hypothalamus-pituitary axis. In the present study, we used
primary rat adrenal cell cultures to investigate the
pharmacological function of a water-soluble extract of Cordyceps
sinensis (CS) and the signaling pathway involved. Radio immunoassay of corticosterone indicated that the amount of
corticosterone produced by adrenal cells is increased in a
positively dose-dependent manner by CS, reaching a maximum at 25
microgram/ml. This stimulating effect was seen 1 h after CS
treatment and was maintained for up to 24 h. Concomitantly, the
lipid droplets in these cells became small and fewer in number.
Immunostaining with a monoclonal antibody, A2, a specific marker
for the lipid droplet capsule, demonstrated that detachment of
the capsule from the lipid droplet occurs in response to CS
application and that the period required for decapsulation is
inversely related to the concentration of CS applied. The
mechanism of CS-induced steroidogenesis is apparently different
from that for ACTH, since intracellular cAMP levels were not
increased in CS-treated cells. However, combined application with
calphostin C, a PKC inhibitor, completely blocked the effect of
CS on steroidogenesis, suggesting that activation of PKC may be
responsible for the CS-induced steroidogenesis.,Wang
SM; Lee LJ; Lin WW; Chang CM , Department of Anatomy, College of
Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Republic of China,
J Cell Biochem, 69(4):483-9 1998 Jun 15
Effect of Cordyceps sinensis on the proliferation and
differentiation of human leukemic U937 cells., Cordyceps sinensis
is a herb medicine with antitumor activity capable of suppressing
the growth of mouse Sarcoma 180 in vivo. In the present study, we
have isolated polysaccharide fraction of Cordyceps sinensis
(PSCS) and investigated its effect on the proliferation and
differentiation of human leukemic U937 cells using an in vitro
culture system. Our results showed that the conditioned medium
from PSCS (10 microg/ml)-stimulated blood mononuclear cells
(PSCS-MNC-CM) had an activity that could significantly inhibit
the proliferation of U937 cells resulting in a growth inhibition
rate of 78-83%. Furthermore, PSCS-MNC-CM treatment induced about
50% of the cells differentiating into mature
monocytes/macrophages expressing nonspecific esterase (NSE)
activity and the surface antigens of CD11b, CD14, and CD 68. Yet,
the differentiated U937 cells also had functions of phagocytosis
and superoxide production. However, PSCS alone or normal MNC-CM
had no such effects. The levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor
necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin (IL)-1 were very low
in normal MNC-CM, and they were greatly increased in MNC-CM
prepared with PSCS stimulation. Antibody neutralization studies
further revealed that the tumoricidal and differentiating effects
of PSCS-MNC-CM were mainly derived from the elevated cytokines,
especially IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. These two cytokines acted
synergistically on inhibiting cell growth and inducing
differentiation of the target U937 cells. ,Chen
YJ; Shiao MS; Lee SS; Wang SY , Department of Medical Research,
Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
,Life Sci, 60(25):2349-59 1997
Cordyceps sinensis as an immunomodulatory agent., Effects of
various fractions of methanol extracts from fruiting bodies of
Cordyceps sinensis on the lymphoproliferative response, natural
killer (NK) cell activity, and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)
stimulated interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha
(TNF-alpha) production on human mononuclear cells (HMNC) were
studied. Two of the 15 column fractions (CS-36-39 and CS-48-51)
significantly inhibited the blastogenesis response (IC50 = 71.0
+/- 3.0 and 21.7 +/- 2.0 micrograms/ml, respectively), NK cell
activity (IC50 = 25.0 +/- 2.5 and 12.9 +/- 5.8 micrograms/ml,
respectively) and IL-2 production of HMNC stimulated by PHA (IC50
= 9.6 +/- 2.3 and 5.5 +/- 1.6 micrograms/ml, respectively).
TNF-alpha production in HMNC cultures was also blocked by
CS-36-39 and CS-48-51 (IC50 = 2.7 +/- 1.0 and 12.5 +/- 3.8
micrograms/ml, respectively). These results indicated that
neither CS-36-39 nor CS-48-51 was cytotoxic on HMNC, and that
immunosuppressive ingredients are contained in Cordyceps
sinensis., Kuo YC; Tsai WJ; Shiao MS; Chen CF;
Lin CY , National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine,
Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. ,Am J Chin Med,
24(2):111-25 1996 .
Polysaccharides in fungi. XXXVI. Hypoglycemic activity of a
polysaccharide (CS-F30) from the cultural mycelium of Cordyceps
sinensis and its effect on glucose metabolism in mouse liver. , A
polysaccharide (CS-F30) obtained from the cultural mycelium of
Cordyceps sinensis showed potent hypoglycemic activity in genetic
diabetic mice after intraperitoneal administration, and the
plasma glucose level was quickly reduced in normal and
streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice after intravenous
administration. Administration of CS-F-30 to normal mice
significantly increased the activities of hepatic glucokinase,
hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, although the
glycogen content in the liver was reduced. Furthermore, CS-F30
lowered the plasma triglyceride level and cholesterol level in
mice. , Kiho T; Yamane A; Hui J; Usui S; Ukai
S ,Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Japan. ,Biol Pharm Bull,
19(2):294-6 1996 Feb .
Effects of the mycelial extract of cultured Cordyceps sinensis
on in vivo hepatic energy metabolism in the mouse. , Mice were
given the extract of cultured Cordyceps sinensis (Cs) (200 mg/kg
daily, p.o.) for 3 weeks. In vivo phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic
resonance (NMR) spectra of the liver were acquired at weekly
intervals using a surface coil. From 1 to 3 weeks, a consistent
increase in the ATP/inorganic phosphate ratio, which represents
the high energy state, was observed in the Cs extract-treated
mice. The intracellular pH of the Cs extract-treated mice was not
significantly different from that of the control mice. No
steatosis, necrosis, inflammation or fibrosis were observed in
the liver specimens from Cs extract-treated mice. , Manabe N; Sugimoto M; Azuma Y; Taketomo N; Yamashita
A; Tsuboi H; Tsunoo A; Kinjo N; Nian-Lai H; Miyamoto H ,
Department of Animal Science, Kyoto University, Japan. ,Jpn J
Pharmacol, 70(1):85-8 1996 Jan.
[Genetic divergence of Cordyceps sinensis as
estimated by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis] Random
amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD) has been used in analyzing 13
winter worm, summer grasses (Cordyceps sinensis [Berk.], Sacc.)
from 5 areas in Qingzang plateau. For 19 arbitrary primers, each
individual showed about 65 RAPD markers. The genetic distances
among those 13 winter worm, summer grasses were correlated to
their geographic distances. Molecular phylogenetic tree
constructed by UPGMA and NJ suggested that 13 winter worm, summer
grasses could be divided into 3 clusters: east cluster, north
cluster and middle cluster, in consistence with their origins and
genetic divergence among different clusters. Furthermore, our
results implied that the RAPD markers of winter worm, summer
grasses showed a geographic specificity and could be a better
genetic marker in studying genetic diversity and phylogeny of
winter worm, summer grasses., Chen Y;
Wang W; Yang Y; Su B; Zhang Y; Xiong L; He Z; Shu C; Yang D ,
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Evolution, Kunming Institute
of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. , I Chuan Hsueh Pao,
24(5):410-6 1997 Oct..
[Influence of Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. and rat serum
containing same medicine on IL-1, IFN and TNF produced by rat
Kupffer cells] , The results indicated that the levels of IL-1,
IFN, and TNF, especially those of IL-1 and INF, produced by
cultured rat kupffer cells were increased in the presence of
Cordyceps sinensis (CS) or the drug serum (DS) from rats fed on
CS. The experimental result of DS was similar to that of CS.
However, the former had a better repeatability and stability., Liu P; Zhu J; Huang Y; Liu C , Liver Diseases
Research Center, Shanghai Academy of TCM., Chung Kuo Chung Yao
Tsa Chih, 21(6):367-9, 384 1996 Jun
[Effect of Jinshuibao capsule on the immunological function of
36 patients with advanced cancer] Jinshuibao Capsule (JSBC),
produced by Jiangxi Jinshuibao pharmaceutical Company Limited,
possesses the similar active principles and pharmacological
activity with those of Cordyceps sinensis. The effect of JSBC on
the immunological function of 36 patients with advanced cancer
showed that it could restore cellular immunological function,
improve quality of life, but had no significant effect on humoral
immunological function. The results suggested that JSBC could be
used as adjuvant drug in advanced cancer.,Zhou
DH; Lin LZ , First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of
TCM., Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih, 15(8):476-8 1995
Aug .
Many other references:
Degliantoni, G. , M. Murphy, M. Kobayashi, M.K.
Francis, B.P.erussia and B. Trinchieri, Natural killer (NK)
cell-derived hematopoietic colony-inhibiting activity and NK
cytotoxic factor. Relationship with tumor necrosis factor and
synergism with immune interferon, J. Exp. Med. 162; 1512-1530,
1985
Zhu, X. 1990. Immunosuppressive effect of
cultured Cordyceps sinensis on cellular immune response. Chinese
Journal of Modern developments in Traditional Medicine
10:485-487, 4540
Dr. Georges Halpern , M.D., "Cordyceps,
China's Longevity Secret" , Avery Publishing Group.
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