Although O. sinensis and C. militaris are two different species, they belong to the same genus, Cordyceps, and share most of their active compounds and therapeutic effects.
Bioactive ingredients
Cordycepin – The Multifunctional Adenosine Derivative
adenosine derivative
Broad spectrum of activity:
- Antitumor – Cancer-fighting properties
- Antibacterial – Protection against pathogenic bacteria
- Antiviral – Virus Defense
- Anti-inflammatory – Reduction of chronic inflammatory processes
- Anticoagulant – Optimization of blood viscosity
- Antidepressant – Mood-lifting effect
- Hepatoprotective – Liver protection and regeneration
- Neuroprotective – Protection of nerve cells
- Antioxidant – Cell protection against free radicals
- Stimulates steroid production – promotes hormone production
Ophiocordin – The Antimicrobial Warrior
Antibacterial and fungicidal – Comprehensive protection against microorganisms and fungal infections
Adenosine – The Cardiovascular Regulator
Cardiovascular effects:
- Blood pressure-lowering – vasodilation of blood vessels
- Heart rate-lowering – Regulation of heart activity
- Improves coronary blood flow – Optimizes blood supply to the heart
- Antioxidant – Cell protection against oxidative stress
- Immunomodulatory – Regulation of the immune system
- Antiarrhythmic – Stabilization of the heart rhythm
Cordyol C – The Dual Inhibitor
HSV-1 inhibition – Blocking herpes simplex virus replication
Inhibition of cancer cell growth – Direct cytotoxic effect on tumor cells
Polysaccharides – The Immune Activators
D-glucans and galactosaminoglycans – up to 8% of total weight
Broad spectrum of activity:
- Antitumor – Cancer-fighting properties
- Antioxidant – Protection against free radicals
- Anti-diabetic – Blood sugar regulation
- Immunostimulatory – Activation of the immune system
D-Mannitol – The Organ Protector
Formerly known as cordycepic acid
Organ-protective properties:
- Antimetastatic – Inhibition of cancer cell spread
- Hepatoprotective – Liver protection
- Anti-hyperlipidemic – Regulation of lipid metabolism
- Renoprotective – Kidney protection
Cordlan – The Immunomodulator
Immunomodulatory, anticancer polysaccharide from C. militaris
Immune System Optimization – Regulating and Strengthening the Immune Response
Ergosterol – The Bone Builder
Ergosterol and its derivatives
Skeletal support – promoting bone and cartilage formation
Cordyceamide A and B – The Pain Inhibitors
aurantiamides
Analgesic effects:
- Pain-relieving – Relief of pain symptoms
- Anti-inflammatory – Reduces inflammatory reactions
Cordymin – The Neuroprotective Mushroom Warrior
Antifungal and neuroprotective peptide from C. militaris
Dual protection – protection against fungal infections and nerve cell damage
Fatty Acids – Protectors of the Cardiovascular System
28 saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and their derivatives
Cardiovascular health:
- Antihyperlipidemic – Regulation of lipid metabolism
- Cardioprotective – Protection of the cardiovascular system
Melanin – The Natural Antioxidant
Antioxidant – A powerful free radical scavenger and cell protector
Nutritional Profile – The Vitality Package
Macronutrients:
- Moisture content: 10.6–12.78%
- Protein: 25%
- Fat: 1.7%
- Carbohydrates: 34.04–36.26%
- Polysaccharides: 5.4–6.39%
- Dietary fiber: 20.8–21.1%
- Ash: 4.84–5.23%
Vitamin complex:
- Vitamins E and K – Cell Protection and Blood Clotting
- B vitamins: B1, B2, B12 – Nervous system and energy metabolism
Essential trace elements: K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, P, Se, Al, Si, Ni, Sr, Ti, Cr, Ga, V, Zr
Therapeutic Applications
Revitalizing Tonic – The Energy Booster
Improved physical performance:
- Improving physical endurance and performance
- Increased energy and oxygen consumption in older patients during exercise
- Protection against overtraining syndrome thanks to its powerful antioxidant effects
- Increase in cellular ATP concentration at the molecular level
Combination therapy with Rhodiola rosea:
- Increased aerobic endurance in young adults with sedentary lifestyles
- Improved blood sugar control
- Positive changes in body composition (body weight, BMI, fat mass, muscle mass)
- Improved endurance performance during high-altitude training
- Longer time to exhaustion in elite athletes
Anti-Aging – The Fountain of Youth
Age-related improvements in older adults:
- Reduction of fatigue
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- Reduction of dizziness
- Reduction in frequent nocturia
- Relief from tinnitus
- Improving Hyposexuality
- Improving Memory in Cases of Amnesia
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – The Energy Restorer
Revitalization – Restoring physical and mental energy
Sexual Function and Fertility – The Libido Booster
Improving sperm quality:
- Improving sperm quality and quantity
- Improved sperm motility
- Longer sperm lifespan
- Higher sperm count
- Fewer abnormally shaped sperm
Hormone regulation:
- Increasing testosterone levels
- Increase in serum concentrations of 17-estradiol
Sexual dysfunction:
- Improvement in sexual dysfunction
- Long-term reversal of impotence and frigidity
- Relief from sexual discomfort
- Increased libido in male and female patients
- Improvement of leukorrhea in female patients
Recovery and Mental Health – The Mood Booster
Mental health support:
- Antidepressant effect
- Improving sleep quality
- Promoting overall recovery
Kidney Diseases – The Kidney Protector
Chronic kidney disease (CKD):
- Lower incidence of kidney failure
- Improved kidney, immune, and antioxidant function
- Reduction in the severity of CKD
- Lowering blood pressure
- Reduction in proteinuria
- Improvement in BUN and creatinine levels
Antibiotic-induced nephrotoxicity:
- A cure rate of nearly 90% after 6 days of treatment
Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN):
- Reduction in the incidence of CIN following coronary angiography in patients with angina pectoris and diabetes
Diabetic Nephropathy – Protection Against Diabetic Kidney Damage
Kidney transplant:
- Allows for a lower dose of cyclosporine
- Fewer side effects
- No increased risk of acute rejection
- No toxicity
Hepatoprotective effect – The liver protector
Liver fibrosis – Inhibition of liver fibrosis and restoration of liver function
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease – Significant Reduction in Abnormal Liver Enzyme Levels in Patients with Fatty Liver Disease
Chronic hepatitis A, B, and C:
- Therapeutic benefits in children with asymptomatic hepatitis
- Transformation of the disease into a non-infectious form
- Improvement in symptoms of chronic hepatitis B
- Treatment of Post-Hepatitis Cirrhosis
- Better results when combined with other medicinal mushrooms than with lamivudine alone
Respiratory Diseases and Allergies – The Lung Healer
Asthma – Bronchodilatory and asthma-preventing effects
COPD – Prolonged survival in low-oxygen environments
Bronchitis – Beneficial effects on chronic inflammation of the airways
Infectious Diseases – The Pathogen Fighter
Viral infections:
- Chronic viral infections associated with chronic fatigue syndrome
- HIV – Cordycepin inhibits the HIV replication cycle by blocking viral reverse transcriptase
- Influenza A virus – Positive therapeutic effects, strong antiviral activity against the H1N1 virus
Bacterial infections – reduced growth and spread of Group A streptococci, increased survival rate
Complementary Cancer Treatment – The Tumor Fighter
Quality of life and survival:
- Improving quality of life
- Extension of survival time
- Reduction in tumor size in lung cancer and various types of cancer
- Improvement in cancer-related symptoms
Chemotherapy Support:
- Reduction of side effects caused by chemotherapy
- Reduction of vomiting and hair loss
- Improved appetite
- Increased sleep duration
Results of animal studies:
- Reduction in tumor size
- Extension of survival time
- Prevention of metastases
- Improved immune system recovery after chemotherapy
- Protection of bone marrow and the intestines from radiation damage
Cancer-specific effects: O. sinensis: cervical, uterine, breast, colorectal, non-small cell lung, and liver cancer cells
C. militaris: colon, breast, lung, ovarian, bladder, and liver cancer; leukemia cells
Cardiovascular Diseases – The Heart Protector
Type 2 diabetes mellitus:
- Inhibition of α-glucosidase in vitro
- Antidiabetic activity in vivo
- Improvement in blood sugar levels
- Prevention of diabetic complications
Dyslipidemia:
- Lowering blood cholesterol levels
- Reduction of plaque buildup in the aorta
- Improvement in lipid profile in chronic kidney disease
Chronic heart failure:
- Improvement in overall quality of life in combination with conventional therapy
- Improving physical fitness
- Improving mental health
- Increased sex drive
- Optimization of organ blood flow
- Improved heart function
Other cardiovascular effects:
- Antithrombotic effect
- Improvements in ventricular arrhythmias
Specific Applications – Additional Benefits
Alcoholism – Reduced Cravings in Alcohol-Dependent Patients 48 Hours After the Start of Treatment
Weight loss – Significantly lower body weight gain in aged rats
Immunomodulatory Effects – The Immunomodulator
Bidirectional immunomodulation:
- Immunostimulatory in cancer
- Immunosuppressive in organ transplantation
- Boosting overall immunity
- Increase in the number of immune cells in healthy adults
Autoimmune Diseases – The Autoimmune Regulator
Thyroid disorders:
- Graves' disease
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Lupus nephritis – Kidney protection and prevention of nephritis recurrence when combined with artemisinin
Antioxidant Effects – The Anti-Aging Agent
Effects of cordycepin:
- Increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes to the level seen in young organisms
- Protection of the liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs against oxidative stress
Other Areas of Healthcare – The Role of the Specialist
Skin Health – Effects on Photoaging and Hyperpigmentation in Vitro
Osteoporosis – Prevention of osteoporosis with high doses in animal studies
Traditional Use in Traditional Chinese Medicine – Knowledge Dating Back Thousands of Years
Energy restoration:
- Nourishing and Strengthening Jing (Yin and Yang)
- Restoring the deep energy lost due to stress and a decline in stamina
- Balancing deficiencies in kidney and lung energy
Systemic Regulation:
- Improving and balancing metabolism
- Supporting homeostasis
- Regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
- Safe for use in almost all endocrine disorders
Physical and mental rejuvenation:
- Strengthening Body and Mind
- Calming the nervous system
Respiratory support:
- Lung strengthening
- Relief for coughing, wheezing, and shallow breathing
- Treatment of the flu, COPD, and asthma
Organ support:
- Kidney and liver diseases
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Hyperlipidemia
General health promotion:
- Fibromyalgia
- Fatigue and exhaustion following a prolonged illness
- Common Ailments and Pain in Older Adults
- Immune disorders and susceptibility to infection
- Lyme disease
- Adjuvant cancer treatment
- Hyposexuality, Impotence
- Aphrodisiac for men and women
Safety considerations
Pregnancy and breastfeeding:
- There is little published data on the use of this medication in pregnant and breastfeeding women
- Precautions due to potential stimulating effects on the reproductive system
- Take special care with very young children
Drug Interactions – The Interactions
Diabetes:
- Frequent reduction in the dosage of oral or injectable antidiabetic medications
- Changes in blood sugar levels require monitoring
HIV Treatment:
- Naturally occurring antiretroviral compounds (2’3′-dideoxyadenosine, 3′-deoxyadenosine)
- Potential increase in efficacy or dose reduction with antiretroviral therapy
Mild side effects:
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
Very rare reactions:
- A case of a systemic allergic reaction is reported
General safety – Very few toxic side effects have been documented in the scientific literature.
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