Cordyceps sinensis:The longevity and energy mushroom with history application for more than 3000 years.

Phytochemicals and Constituents.

Corcyceps Mycelia Extract Mannitol CAS 95009-14-6 Corcyceps Extract CS-4 Polysaccharides Cordyceps sinensis extract Cordyceps sinensis Berk.Sacc photo picture image Current research indicates the nucleotides (adenosine), polysaccharides, cordycepin and amino acids are responsible for its therapeutic potential. This material is standardized to contain a minimum of 0.2% adenosine and 7% cordycepic acid. Research indicates cordyceps has a very low incidence of toxicity.

Cordyceps contains a wide variety of potentially important constituents, including polysaccharides, ophiocordin (an antibiotic compound), cordycepin, cordypyridones, nucleosides, bioxanthracenes, sterols, alkenoic acids, and exo-polymers.

Many studies on the medicinal effects of cordyceps do not give a clear picture of its actions because many of the studies are in animals or test tubes; use different species, preparations, and intake levels; inject cordyceps and/or its constituents rather than administering them orally; or are not available in English and, therefore, cannot be reviewed for accuracy and design.

There are some clinical trials supporting the efficacy of cordyceps, particularly for liver, kidney, and immune problems. A number of studies indicate that cordyceps may have a anti-cancer, anti-metastatic, immuno-enhancing, and antioxidant effects.

The published quality standard for Cordyceps products by Chinese Ministry of Health, WS2-C1-0001-90, has set a min. level of 6.0% for Cordycepic acid (D-Mannitol) and 0.14% for adenosine.

Carbohydrates

Polysaccharides:Polysaccharides in Cordyceps have shown various activities: hypoglycemic (CS-F30) (Kiho et al., 1996); hypolipidemic (CS-F30) (Kiho et al., 1996); immunostimulating (CS-81002) (Gong et al., 1990) immunostimulating/radioprotective/antitumor (polysaccharide I) (Zang et al., 1985); and antileukemic (polysaccharide fraction-conditioned medium) (Chen et al., 1997).

Nitrogenous Compounds:Nucleotides and Nucleosides

Certain nucleosides in Cordyceps, such as adenosine, inhibit platelet aggregation (Ikumoto et al., 1991; Shiao et al., 1994) and others have shown calcium antagonist and inotropic activity (Furuya et al., 1983). Nucleosides reported in Cordyceps include adenosine, uracil, uridine, guanine, guanosine (Shiao et al., 1994) and 2'- and 3��- deoxyadenosine (cordycepin) (Chen and Chu, 1996)

Major Effective contents:adenosine C10H13N5O4,0.014% to 0.042%;D-mannitol,C6H14O6,0.37% to 14.45%; adenine,C6H5N5,0.0162%; Beta-sitosterol,C29H50O,etc.

Major effective components of Cordyceps sinensis covered Polysaccharides,this polysaccharides composed by Mannose,cordycepin,adenosine,galactose,arabinose,glucose,fucosidase;also contains Cordycepic acid about 7%;protein about 25%,fatty acid about 8.4%(Monounsaturated fatty acid share 82.2% of all fatty acid ),amino acids 12 kinds,18 kinds amino acids once hydrolized,8 essential amino acids all contains,also contains histidine which necessary for child grow.Other wise,it contains Vitamin B12,ergosterol,etc.

Other Constituents:

Cordyceps sinensis also contains: galactomannans (Miyazaki et al., 1977; Kiho et al., 1986), polyamines (spermine, spermidine, homospermidine, putrescine, 1,3-diaminopropane) (Zhu and Masaru, 1993), various uncommon cyclic dipeptides, minerals, vitamins B1, B2, B12, E and K, all the essential amino acids (Yue et al., 1995; Huang et al., 1991; Xu et al., 1992; Guo, 1986; Tao, 1995; Xia et al., 1985), glutamic acid, Ltryptophan, L-arginine, and lysine (Zhang et al., 1991). C. sinensis also contains d-mannitol, ergosterol, ergosterol derivatives, alkaloids, fatty acids (mainly oleic, linoleic, palmitic, and stearic acids) (Shiao et al., 1989), and sterols (Kadota et al., 1986). uridine 0.0073%(mg/g); ergosterol 0.76%~1.08%(mg/mg);trehalose;stearic acid;cholesterol palmitate;hexadecanoic acid;ergosterol superoxide; uridine,0.016%~0.058%;inosine; thymine; hypoxanthine;guanidine; deoxygen-adenosine,0.0073%(mg/g); oleic acid;linoleic acid;linolenic acid;palmitic acid; 3-phenyl-alpha-acrolein; 3-phenyl-alpha-allyl alcohol; octadecane; onadecane; 14-methyl pentadecylic acid; hexadecanoic acid; eicosane; 3-octadecenoic acid; pentadecylic acid; 9-hexadecenoic acid(Z); 14-methyl hexadecanoic acid; 9-octadecenoic acid-(Z); 11-eicosenoic acid; 1,3-diamino propagas 0.018umol/g; cadaverine 0.001umol/g; hspd 0.015umol/g; putrescine; spermidine; spermine; Vitamin B1,0.018mg per 100g; Vitamin B2,1.28mg per 100g; Vitamin C,23.01mg per 100g; sulfur,etc.