Кордицепс: Құрамы, қасиеттері және қолданылуы

Genus of fungi

Cordyceps '/k//ɔɹ//d//ɪ//s//ɛ//p//s/ is a genus of ascomycete fungi (sac fungi) that includes about 600 worldwide species. Diverse variants of cordyceps have had more than 1,500 years of use in Chinese medicine. Most Cordyceps species are endoparasitoids, parasitic mainly on insects and other arthropods (they are thus entomopathogenic fungi); a few are parasitic on other fungi. The generic name Cordyceps is derived from the ancient Greek κορδύλη kordýlē, meaning "club", and the Latin ceps, meaning " headed". The genus has a worldwide distribution, with most of the approximately 600 known species being from Asia (notably Nepal, China, Japan, Bhutan, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand).

Polysaccharide components and cordycepin are under basic research and have been isolated from C. militaris. Research has found that cordycepin can ameliorate testicular damage caused by diabetes, by which it regulates the activities of antioxidant enzymes through the Sirt1/Foxo3a pathway. Cordycepin has also been evidenced to abate the pathology associated with Alzheimer’s disease with the anti oxidative stress and autophagy activation. This implication opens up a potential treatment option for neurodegenerative diseases. From another species, Cordyceps gunnii, the extracted polysaccharides have been found to enhance the activities of natural killer cells and cytotoxic T cells in immunodeficient mice, as well as up regulate the levels of cytokines and immunoglobulins. In addition, Cordyceps produces mycotoxins, such as alkaloids, peptides, and polyketides, that have been found to have fatal effects on both adults and nymphs of Asian citrus psyllids. Moreover, Cordyceps induced infection decreases activities of Asian citrus psyllids’ detoxification enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S transferase (GST), and peroxidase (POD). As these enzymes are important in regulating immune functions, the infection in turn suppresses immune activities of Asian citrus psyllids, causing them to succumb to environmental stresses more easily. Discoveries on the effects of Cordyceps on Asian citrus psyllids provide potential solutions to citrus greening disease, or Huanglongbing.

Along with Ophiocordyceps, Cordyceps has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine in the belief it can be used to treat diseases. There is no strong scientific evidence for such uses. In addition, Chinese herbal formula containing Cordyceps helps with increasing mitochondrial ATP production as well as mitochondrial antioxidant capacity. Cordyceps also has nutritional value, as it contains biological components such as essential amino acids, various vitamins (B1, B2, B12, E and K), and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Moreover, Cordyceps has been found to improve symptoms of asthma.