• Cordyceps sinensis• Cordyceps is a rare and exotic medicinal mushroom, known in China for centuries. One that reportedly has a number of far reaching medicinal effects. • Most people in the West have come to know this rare herbal medicine in only the last twenty years or so. • During that time, modern scientific investigation into its seemingly miraculous range of healing powers has proven what Chinese practitioners have noted for centuries: That it works well in combating a myriad of medicals problems. • Cordyceps sinensis has been known and used for many centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In nature, it is found only at high altitudes on the Himalayan Plateau, and is thus difficult to find and harvest • Because of the difficulties involved in harvesting this exotic medicinal, Cordyceps has always been one of the most expensive medicines known

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CordycepsSinensis
SUBMITTEDTO:-Dr.SANJEEVRAVI

2. SUBMITTEDBY:-VIKASTIWARI(16031)
Introduction
 Cordyceps is a rare and exotic medicinal mushroom, known in Chinafor centuries.
One that reportedly has a number of far reaching medicinal effects.
 Most peoplein the West have come to know this rare herbal medicine in only the
last twenty yearsor so.
 Duringthat time, modern scientific investigation into its seemingly miraculous
range of healing powershas proven what Chinesepractitioners have noted for
centuries: That it works well in combating a myriad of medicals problems.
 Cordyceps sinensishas been known and used for many centuriesin Traditional
Chinese Medicine(TCM). In nature, it is found only athigh altitudes on the
Himalayan Plateau, and is thus difficultto find and harvest

3.  Because of the difficultiesinvolved in harvesting this exotic medicinal, Cordyceps
has alwaysbeen oneof the most expensivemedicinesknown.
 This high price relegated it almost exclusively to membersof the Emperor'scourt
and other of the Chinese nobility, and it was historically beyond the reach of the
average Chinese subject.
Mycological Data:
1. Kingdom- Fungi
2. Phylum- Ascomycota
3. Class-Ascomycetes
4. Order- Hypocreales
5. Family- Clavicipataceae
6. Genus- Cordyceps
7. Species-Cordyceps Sinensis
8. English names: Cordycepsmushroom, Caterpillar Fungus
9. Japanese names:Totsukasu, Tochukasu
Morphology:
 The fruitbody is dark brown to black; and the ‘root’ of the organism, the larval
body pervaded by the mushroom'smycelium appearsyellowishto brown in
color.
 It is 5-15 cm long and 0.14 to 0.4 cm thick.

4.  There are two types are available in market based on the colour. The whitish
yellow is larger and good in quality. The other type is of copper colour and it is
smaller as well as qualitatively compromised.
Habitat and Adaptations:-
 The normal harvesting period is between the months of April and August. Fruiting off the
larvae of the moths, Cordyceps thrives only at altitudes above 3,800 meters above sea level, in
the cold, grassy, alpine meadows on the mountainous Himalayan Plateau of modern day Tibet,
Nepal, and the modern.
 Cordyceps sinesis, or Caterpillar Fungus, is found on the caterpillar species, Hepialus
armoricanus, in certain parts of the world including some provinces in China, along with
other parts of the higher hills of the Himalayas including Nepal, Tibet, and India.
 Cordyceps sinesis is probably not the first organism someone would search for in these
areas when there are mammals such as black bears and snow leopards roaming around.
 The Cordyceps sinesis species also owns a Tibetan name, yadza gümbu, which translates
to 'summer grass, winter worm'
 This is because the spores of Cordyceps sinesis actually infect the caterpillar during the
autumn season and have the carcass completely filled with its mycelium by spring. This
spores of this species are spread by natural forces, like the wind, and land on soil and
plants where the insect feeds, allowing the spores to germinate within the insect.

5.  The deceased caterpillar turns yellowish to brown in color while the fruiting body
continues to grow into summer until it begins to protrude out of the head of the infected
host. The fruiting body contains more spores to be dispersed by wind back into nature to
be fed on again as the cycle continues.
 Being able to thrive 3000 to 5000 meters above sea level is critical for Cordyceps
sinesiswhich are found in the Himalayan Mountains.
Lifecycle:
 It is a mushroom which grows on a larva of ghost moth.
 During the summer and early autumn, mature fruiting bodies of Yarsaguma
release millions of ascospores in the air which infect the larva and germinate
inside its body.
 The fungal cells spread throughout the body through the circulatory system.
 As the larva is subterranean in habit, it continues digging the soil and enters
inside from its rear part in a vertical position.
 During the winter season, the fungal cells rapidly proliferate inside the larva
body and consume all the internal organs of the larva except its exoskeleton.
 Then the fungal cells convert into the compact white mass inside the body of
larva, which is called endosclerotium.
 It is a dormant stage in the life cycle which can resist unfavorable
environmentalsnow cold condition.
 When outer temperature slowly rises up at the beginning of the spring, the
endosclerotium starts germinating and extrudes through the head part of the
larva and ultimately protrudes through the soil.

6.  This part called stroma gets fully mature in the summer (fruiting bodies) and
again produces ascospores, which infect the larvae in that region. At this season
the collectors start collecting this fungus.
 The life cycle needs one year to complete. In spring and summer it grows out of
the host larva and forms a mushroom fruiting body above the ground, but grows
inside the host larva during autumn and winter.

7. Reproducton :-
Health Benefits and Clinical Studies
The medicinalpropertiesof Cordycepsareremarkable. In traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM), the main use of Cordycepshasbeen in the treatment of asthma and other
bronchial conditions. Modern research now confirmsthe efficacy of these ancientuses.
 Enhancesphysical stamina
 Improvesrespiratory function
 Increases oxygen absorption
 Improvesheart function

8.  Helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels
 Improvesliver functions
 Improveskidney disease
 Reducestumour size
 Enhancesimmunity and T-cell production
 Assists symptomsof ageing
 ReversesHIV
Cordyceps: Side Effects
 Cordyceps has been associated with relatively minor side effects,including
gastrointestinal upset or discomfort, diarrhea, nausea, and dry mouth.
 It is also known to interact with caffeine, immunosuppressants, and
anticoagulants.
 Health experts recommend not taking this supplement if you have
autoimmune conditions or bleeding disorders as cordyceps can aggravate
the symptoms.
 It is recommended that you consult your healthcare provider before taking
any supplements, including cordyceps.

9. RECENT RESEARCH PAPER CORDYCEPS SINENSIS

10. References
 http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/2011/ochoa_erik/history.htm
 https://www.alohamedicinals.com/Cordy_Article.pdf John Holliday Matt Cleaver June
2004
 http://impactfactor.org/PDF/IJPPR/6/IJPPR,Vol6,Issue2,Article36.pdf … IJPPR
Vol. 6, Issue 2, June-August 2014, 339-346
 http://jeffreydachmd.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Cordyceps-Sinesis-Medical-
Mushroom-Richard-Alan-Miller-Nexus.pdf…. by Richard Alan Miller © 2008–2009