Is cordyceps really that miraculous? What are the effects of cordyceps?

Cordyceps sinensis is a precious traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used in the medical field since ancient times. However, there is a traditional Chinese medicine called "Jinshuibao Capsules" developed by the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Its main ingredient is artificially fermented Cordyceps sinensis mycelium (Cs-4 strain), which has the effects of tonifying the lungs and kidneys, and replenishing essence and qi.

1) Components of Cordyceps:
Cordyceps can be broadly categorized into polysaccharides, proteins and amino acids, lipids, nucleosides, mannitol, ergosterol, and trace elements. Among the many active ingredients, those that have been extensively studied and exhibit significant pharmacological efficacy include cordyceps polysaccharides, cordycepic acid, and cordyceps polypeptides.

2) The effects of cordyceps:

      1. Antitumor activity: Many studies at home and abroad have shown that Cordyceps polysaccharides have antitumor activity, mainly through mechanisms such as directly killing cancer cells, inducing cancer cell apoptosis, or inhibiting cancer cell metastasis.

      2. Immunomodulatory effects: Results showed that Cordyceps polysaccharides increased the quality of immune organs or reduced the reduction in the quality of immune organs caused by drugs; Cordyceps polysaccharides could induce the activation and proliferation of T cells, NK cells, monocytes and macrophages, and secrete various lymphokines, thereby regulating the body's specific and non-specific immunity.

      3. Hypoglycemic effect: Polysaccharide extracts from artificially cultivated Cordyceps sinensis have been found to have significant effects on various diabetic animal models. The main hypoglycemic mechanisms include: stimulating insulin secretion, inhibiting hepatic glucose output, promoting the activity of hepatic glucose metabolism enzymes, and reducing the content of glucose transporter proteins.

      4. Improve learning and memory function: Cordyceps polysaccharides have a certain effect on improving the learning and memory ability of mice with cerebral ischemia injury model. They can increase the activity of SOD in the brain, reduce the content of MDA, and enhance the ability to scavenge free radicals.

      5. Liver protection: Cordyceps polysaccharides have a protective effect on the liver, mainly including protection against chemical liver damage, immune liver damage, and liver fibrosis.

      6. Protective effect on kidney function: The protective effect of Cordyceps polysaccharides on the kidneys mainly includes their effects on acute and chronic renal failure and renal fibrosis. Cordyceps polysaccharides can significantly reduce serum total protein, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and K+ levels, as well as urinary protein, urinary ketones, urinary red blood cells and white blood cells levels and kidney index in rats with acute renal failure, and significantly improve the pathological damage to the kidneys of the model rats.

      7. Antioxidant and anti-aging effects: The polysaccharides in Cordyceps fermentation broth have excellent ability to scavenge hydroxyl free radicals and superoxide anion free radicals. Cordyceps polysaccharides can be used to prepare drugs to combat skin photoaging. Studies have found that Cordyceps polysaccharides can prolong the lifespan of fruit flies.

      8. Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiviral activities: Cordyceps sinensis mycelium extract has significant in vitro anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, some scholars have found that Cordyceps polypeptides also have analgesic effects, with an analgesic effect almost equivalent to that of pethidine.

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