• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.973-979
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• 2006

Cordyceps sinensis has been clinically used for the treatment of recovering fatigue, promoting the production of body fluid and qi, resolving sputum and arresting cough. Recent studies showed that Cordyceps sinensis produced immune-modulatory, anticarcinogenic and antioxidative effects. But, there are lack of studies regarding the effects of Cordyceps sinensis on the asthma. So, this study was performed to investigate the oral administrated effects of this herb against the disease. Asthma was induced to Balb/c mouse by i.p. injection and aerosol immunization with ovalbumin, and the change of the eosinophil number in the bronchoalveolar avage fluid(BALF) was observed. Concentrations of Interleukine-4(IL-4), Interleukine-5(IL-5) in BALF and splenocyte were assessed by ELISA, ImmunoglobinG(IgG) and ImmunoglobinE(IgE) from serum were calculated by same method. We found that the effects of Cordyceps sinensis in asthma mouse was implicated in reductions of IL-4, IL-S released from type2 T helper (Th2) cell, and decreases of IgE from plasma cell. These findings suggest that Cordyceps sinensis can produce anti-asthmatic effect, which may play a role in allergen-induced asthma therapy.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.47-55
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was carried out to know the effect of Cordyceps sinensis(CS) on the immune inflammatory responses of spleen cells and function or immunocytes of the normal mouse. Methodes: We investigated effects of Cordyceps sinensis(CS) on normal immunocytes, gene expression of IL-12, IFN-$\gamma$ and surface-receptor expression of $CD3_{\epsilon}+$, CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ cells were measured by PCR and FACS. Results : CS activated adhisive splenic cells morphologically as compared with the control group in the normal spleen cells of BALB/C mice. CS enhanced gene expression of interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma in a dose-dependent manner in the normal spleen cells of BALB/C mice. CS reduced the number of activating cells and surface-receptor expression of CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+. Conclusion : Cordyceps sinensis will be used as a stable remedium in the auto-immune diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.67-76
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was carried out to know the effect of Cordyceps sinensis(CS) on the immune inflammatory responses of athritis and function. Methodes : To analyse immunomodulatory effects of CS, cytotoxicity and inhibition of proliferation against of synovial cells, gene expression of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$ and IL-6, DNA-binding activity of $NF-_{k}B$ and AP-1 were measured in vitro. Results : CS didn't show cytotoxicity against human synovial cells and inhibited proliferation of human synovial cells in a dose-dependent manner in combination with rIL-6. CS reduced the gene expression of IL-6 and IL-1$\beta$ in a dose- dependent manner but didn't reduced that of TNF-$\alpha$ in human synovial cells. CS reduced the binding-activity of $NF-_{k}B$ and also reduced that of AP-1 remarkably. Conclusion: We found out that Cordyceps sinensis has immunomodulatory effect of suppressing synovial cells. And Cordyceps sinensis will be used as a stable remedium in the auto-immune disease in the future.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2001

Objectives : Cordyceps Sinensis (CS) was tested for the effects of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in the liver. Methods : We measured the changes in body weight, enzyme activity, lipid peroxide and the death rate in the hydrocortisone acetate-treated rats. Results : In vitro, CS didn't effect levels of lipid peroxide. the activities, and the ratio of type conversion of xanthine oxidase. In the hydrocortisone acetate-treated rats, lipid peroxide, the activities, the ratio of type conversion of xanthine oxidase, and the death rate all increased. But, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase decreased. In vitro, after CS was administered to hydrocortisone acetatetreated rats, the levels of lipid peroxide in the liver, and the death rate decreased. However, the activities, and the ratio of type conversion of xanthine oxidase decreased. The body weight, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in+creased. The effects of Sinensis Cordyceps Broth did better than the effects of Sinensis Cordyceps Mycelia. Conclusions : These results suggest that CS decrease the activities of free radical generating enzymes which form lipid peroxide and increase the activities of oxygen free radical scavenging enzymes.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2001

For defining the possibilities of the commercial mass liquid culture of Cordyceps sinensis, the pharmacological activities of mycelia were analyzed. The mycelium of C. sinensis consists of carbohydrate (5.1%) and fat (1.3%), and contains a low content of protein (0.7%) and ash (0.5%), and 92.4% moisture. The molecular sugar ratio of carbohydrate was composed mainly of glucose, mannose (1.0 : 0.9), in addition a small amount of galactose and arabinose (0.2 : 0.1). The cellular materials of mycelia were fractionated into ethylacetate (EA), MeOH (M) and hot-water extract fraction (HW). HW fraction showed the most potent intestinal immune system modulating activity, anti-coagulant activity, and anti-complementary activity, and M fraction had the inhibition activity of radical generation as effective as genistine. These results reveal that the mycelium of liquid cultured C. sinensis showed pharmacological activities and could be used for commercial purpose.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.31-41
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the effects of Cordyceps Sinensis (CS) and Cordyceps Militaris (CM) on anti oxidation in the livers of ${CCl_4}-treated$ rats. Methods : Hepatotoxicity in rats was induced by carbon tetracWoride. $CCl_4-induced$ rats were administered with the extract of CS and CM. Results : In vitro, CS and CM didn't affect levels of lipid peroxide and the activities and type conversion ratio of xanthine oxidase. However, hydroxyl radicals and DPPHL radicals were decreased. In vivo, in the ${CCl_4}-treated$ rats, lipid peroxide, the activities and type conversion ratio of xanthine oxidase and superoxide radicals were increased but superoxide dismutase was decreased. After CS and CM were administered to ${CCl_4}-treated$ rats, levels of lipid peroxide, the activities and type conversion ratio of xanthine oxidase and superoxide radicals were decreased but superoxide dismutase was increased. Conclusions : These results suggest that CS and CM decrease the activities of free-radical-generating enzymes which form lipid peroxide and increase the activities of oxygen free radical scavenging enzymes.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.174-179
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• 1999

The genetic relationships among six Cordyceps spp. were investigated based on internal transcribed spacer sequences of ribosomal DNA .A portion of the these genes was amplified by PCR. Approximately 590 base pairs were successfully amplified, cloned, sequenced, compared. The nucleotide sequence of the six amplified fragments were aligned by the clustal W program. As a result, Cordyceps militaris shared 87, 96, 98, 90 and 97% sequences homology with Paecilomyces japonica, Paecilomyces sp. J300, Paeciomyces farinosa. Paecilomyces sp. J500 and Cordyceps sinensis, respectively. Paecilomyces japonica also shared 87, 88, 92 and 87% sequence similarity with Paecilomyces sp. J300, Paecilomyces farinosa, Paecilomyces sp. J500 and Cordyceps sinensis, repectively.

• Journal of The Korean Radiological Technologist Association
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-21
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• 1999

Since little or no informations are available regarding the effect of Cordyceps sinensis extract on mice exposed to $\gamma$ - irradiation we attempted to look at the effect of Cordyceps sinenis extract on the survival ratio, body weight and or

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.262-271
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• 2005

Cordyceps, one of the most valued traditional Chinese medicines, consists of the dried fungus Cordyceps sinensis growing on the larva of caterpillar. It is also known as 'winter-worm and summer-grass' because of its appearance during different seasons. The parasitic complex of the fungus and the caterpillar is found in soil of a prairie at an elevation of 3,500 to 5,000 meters in northwestern part of China. According to Chinese medicinal theory, Cordyceps is used to replenish the kidney and soothe the lung, and indeed many clinical applications have been reported. The natural Cordyceps is rare and expensive on the local market, and therefore, several mycelial strains have been isolated from natural Cordyceps and manufactured in large quantities by fermentation technology, and they are commonly sold as health food products in Orient. The adulterants of Cordyceps are commonly found on the market, and therefore the authentication of these products has to be defined. Having the urgent need from current market, different chemical markers such as nucleoside, ergosterol, mannitol and polysaccharide are being used for quality control of Cordyceps. Unfortunately, these markers are far from optimization, and therefore extensive works are needed to define the pharmacological efficiency of these markers.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2010

The mycelial dispersed growth of Cordyceps sinensis was optimized in submerged batch culture at initial pH of 5.0, 150 rpm, and $25^{\circ}C$. The morphological data showed much more dispersed growth of C. sinenesis at initial pH of 5.0. Also, projected area, main hyphal length and number of tips for the mycelial growth of initial pH 5.0 were higher than those of other initial pHs. The industrial medium for mycelial production of C. sinensis was determined to be molasses of 100 g and crushed brewery yeast of 10 g per liter as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. With these culture conditions, the maximum production of mycelia was approximately 30.0 g per liter by batch culture in 5-liter jar fermenter with no controlled pH. This result suggests that large-scale mycelia production of C. sinensis may be possible in submerged batch culture. The hot water extract of mycelia from C. sinensis was mainly composed of 83.0% carbohydrate, 11.8% protein, 1.9% lipid, and 2.4% ash and there were present glucose, mannose, galactose, and arabinose as molar ratio of 8.79 : 2.59 : 1.34 : 1.0 in the carbohydrate, respectively. In the experiment using spleen cell and macrophage, the extract showed potent mitogenic and immuno-stimulating activities and among various components, an important factor that contribute to the immunological activities was turned out to be carbohydrate moiety.