Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Despite the challenges in managing atherosclerosis, researchers continue to investigate new treatments and complementary therapies. Cordyceps is a traditional Chinese medicine that has recently gained attention as a potential therapeutic agent for atherosclerosis. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of cordyceps in treating atherosclerosis through various pharmacological actions, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, lowering cholesterol, inhibiting platelet aggregation, and modulating apoptosis or autophagy in vascular endothelial cells. Notably, the current misuse of the terms cordyceps and Ophiocordyceps sinensis has caused confusion among researchers, and complicated the current academic research on cordyceps. This review focuses on the chemical composition, pharmacological actions, and underlying mechanisms contributing to the anti-atherosclerotic effects of cordyceps and the mycelium of Ophiocordyceps spp. This review provides a resource for the research on the development of new drugs for atherosclerosis from cordyceps. Please cite this article as: Zhang Y, Liu SJ. Cordyceps as potential therapeutic agents for atherosclerosis. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(2): 102-114.
Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cordyceps; Ophiocordyceps sinensis.
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