Cordyceps

Cordyceps Sinensis (CS) is an entomopathogenic fungus found in Asia mountain region [9]. Although it has been traditionally used for hundreds of years, in 1964, Cordyceps sinensis was officially recorded as an herbal drug in Chinese pharmacopoeia. C. sinensis, known as Dongchongxiacao (winter-worm summer-grass) in Chinese, and remains one of the most famous traditional Chinese medicines and medicinal mushrooms [7]. Cordyceps is a rich source of over 200 bioactive compounds, including nucleotides, nucleosides, polysaccharides, proteins, sterols, vitamins (Vit E, K, B1, B2, and B12), and trace elements [13]. Studies show that Cordyceps and its active principles possess a wide range of pharmacological actions, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, antihyperglycemic, anti-apoptotic, immunomodulatory, nephroprotective, and hepatoprotective [2]. It has been used to treat conditions such as night sweating, hyposexuality, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, asthenia after severe illness, respiratory disease, renal dysfunction, renal failure, arrhythmias and other heart disease and liver disease [3].