冬虫夏草药理活性与研究进展.pdfVIP

Chapter 20 Recent Research on Pharmacological Activities of the Medicinal Fungus Cordyceps sinensis Tzi Bun Ng, Jack Ho Wong and Evandro Fei Fang Abstract The Cordyceps sinensis (CS) fungus is an herbal medicinal product in China with a history of over two millenniums. It exhibits a spectacular array of phar- macological activities encompassing anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-adipogenic, anal- gesic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-aging, eryptosis inducing activities; ameliorating effect on pulmonary fibrosis, hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, and hypertension; protective action against viral myocarditis, stimulatory effect on cor- ticosterone and androgen production, and enhancing effect on exercise performance in healthy older subjects. In this chapter we try to sketch out the recent progress on the pharmacological studies of CS, identify its current research hurdles, and recom- mend directions for future research. 20.1 Introduction Cordyceps sinensis (CS) is a Chinese endemic fungus which mainly locates on the Tibetan plateau. It is a parasite on larvae (caterpillars) of two moth genera named Hepialus and Thitarodes. After an overwintering growth, the fungus multiplies to a perithecial stroma which links to the caterpillar below ground [1]. In traditional Chinese medicine, either the stroma, or the stroma with the caterpillar is used as CS product. The medicinal function of this prized medicine was documented early in Wu Yiluo’s Ben Cao Cong Xin (New Compilation of Materia Medica) in 1757 of Qing dynasty, and expanded in the latest decade or so by the disclosure of a diversity of exploitable activities [2]. The pharmacological activities of a number T. B. Ng (*) · J. H. Wong · E. F. Fang School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong e-mail: b021770@.hk J. H. Wong e-mail: jack1993@ E. F. Fang Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, Nationa