Phytomedicine. 2002 May; 9(4): 319-24.

The fruiting body and its caterpillar host of Cordyceps sinensis show close resemblance in main constituents and anti-oxidation activity.

Li SP, Su ZR, Dong TT, Tsim KW.

Department of Biology and Biotechnology Research Institute, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.

Cordyceps (summer-grass, winter-worm), one of the most valued traditional Chinese medicines, is used commonly for the replenishment of body health. It consists of the dried fungus Cordyceps sinensis growing on caterpillar larvae. For medication, the fruiting body (fungus) and the worm (caterpillar) are used together. However, the pharmacological efficiency and the main constituents of the individual parts have not been determined. In the present study the water extracts from the fruiting body and worm of natural Cordyceps were analyzed for their content of nucleosides and polysaccharides; the results showed that the worm had chemical composition similar to the fruiting body. In addition, both the fruiting body and worm of Cordyceps showed similar potency in their anti-oxidation activities in the xanthine oxidase assay, the induction of hemolysis assay and the lipid-peroxidation assay. These results suggest that the function of the worm in Cordyceps is to provide a growth medium for the fruiting body, and that eventually, the worm is totally invaded by C. sinensis mycelia.