Bioactive principles from Cordyceps sinensis: A potent food supplement - A review

Abstract

Cordyceps sinensis (CS) is a well-known entamophagus fungus, naturally distributed in the Tibetan Plateau of Asia and Himalayas. Recently this synonym is transferred to Ophiocordyceps by both scientific and non-scientific communities. It is widely used as a tonic and medicinal food in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as it possess wonderful health benefits. To support its functional attributes, various investigations have been carried out to find out its adaptogenic, aphrodisiac, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, neuroprotective, nootropic, immunomodulatory, anti-cancer and hepatoprotective role. Its fruiting portion as well as the larvae possesses potent bio-active fractions and their composition almost found to be similar in both. The bioactive principles are nucleosides, exo-polysaccharides, sterols and, proteins, among others. Among nucleosides, adenosine and cordycepin are the major biochemical markers. Further, different types of solvent extracts and their mixtures exhibit wide range of pharmacological activities, while the water and methanol extracts with the richest sources of nucleosides and polysaccharides also show wide range of pharmacological activities. This review gives a panoramic view of potential health benefits of various classes of bio-active fractions along with the need for sustainable management of CS for human wellness.

Keywords: Bioactives; Cordyceps sinensis; Extraction; Health benefits.

Fig. 1

Wild Cordyceps sinensis emerging out of the head of a dead caterpillar.

Fig. 2

Flow chart of the processing of bio-active compounds from Cordyceps sinensis.

Fig. 3

Immunomodulatory effects of Cordyceps sinensis on dendritic cells in two different physiological stages: naive and LPS-induced inflammatory. A study demonstrates Cordyceps sinensis acts as an activator and maturation inducer of immature DCs inducing T cells proliferation, priming DCs towards Th1 immunity cum cell mediated response. On the other hand CS regulates LPS induced inflammation. CSF, colony stimulating factor; DC, dendritic cells; CS, water extract of Cordyceps sinensis (Adapted from: Li et al., 2009).

Fig. 4

The simplified experimental scheme describing cordycepin induced anti-tumor and apoptosis processes. Cordycepin in hot water extract of Cordyceps sinensis shows inhibitory actions by stimulating adenosine receptors in turn activates protein kinase C pathway which can be activated through DAG, PLC and Ca²⁺. This signaling pathway stimulates steroidogenesis which results in progesterone production that brings about anti-tumor effect. On other hand cordycepin induces cytotoxic stress signal to mitochondria activating caspase 9, 3.7 cascade pathway via apoptosomes. This cascade caspases pathway brings about DNA fragmentation, plasma blebbling which is characteristic of apoptosis (Adapted from: Huang et al., 2000, Huang et al., 2001, Jen et al., 2011, Leu et al., 2011, Pao et al., 2012, Yoshikawa et al., 2011). CHWE – Cordycepin content in hot water extract of Cordyceps sinensis; PLC – Phospholipase C; PKC – Protein kinase C; Apaf 1 – Apoptotic peptidase activating factor 1; PIP2 – phosphatedylinositol – bisphosphate; DAG – Diacyleglycerol.