Cordyceps is a collective name for a number of species of fungus including C. sinensis, C. militaris, C. pruinosa and C. ophioglossoides. The fungus, which is found growing on particular species of caterpillars, is dried and used as a traditional medicine, particularly in Chinese Traditional Medicine. Chemical analysis of cordyceps has shown that it contains a number of compounds including ergosterol, cordycepin, 3’-amino-3’-deoxyadenosine, homocitrullyl aminoadenosine, adenine, ophiocordin, balanol, myrosin, macrolides, cepharosporolides, cordycepic acid and D-mannitol. Variation in chemical composition between the various Cordyceps species have been shown to exist. A number of studies have verified that the chemical constituents of cordyceps includes anti-tumour, anti-metastatic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, antimicrobial, hypolipidaemic, hypoglycaemic, anti-ageing, neuroprotective and renoprotective effects.
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Ng, T. B. and Wang, H. X. 2005. Pharmacological actions of Cordyceps, a prized folk medicine. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 57(12): 1509-1519
