Cordyceps
Cordyceps ophioglossoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Ascomycota Class: Sordariomycetes Order: Hypocreales Family: Clavicipitaceae Genus: Cordyceps

Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi that includes thousands of species. The species that parasitizes the vegetable caterpillar — Cordyceps sinensis is the most famous of these, having long been considered a precious ingredient in Chinese traditional medicines. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x800, 244 KB) Batch Description: Cordyceps ophioglossoides - Clavicipitaceae; de: Zungenkernkeule Source: photo taken by Eric Steinert near Schongau, Germany Date: photo taken in 04. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Subkingdom/Phyla Chytridiomycota Blastocladiomycota Neocallimastigomycota Glomeromycota Zygomycota Dikarya (inc. ... Subphyla/Classes Archaeascomycetes Euascomycetes Hemiascomycetes or Pezizomycotina Laboulbeniomycetes Eurotiomycetes Lecanoromycetes Leotiomycetes Pezizomycetes Sordariomycetes Dothideomycetes (and many more) Saccharomycotina Saccharomycetes Taphrinomycotina Neolectomycetes Pneumocystidomycetes Schizosaccharomycetes Taphrinomycetes The Ascomycota, formerly known as the Ascomycetae, or Ascomycetes, are a Division of Fungi, whose members are commonly known as the Sac Fungi, which produce spores... Orders Diaporthales Hypocreales Microascales Sordariales Sordariomycetes is a class of the subdivision, Pezizomycotina, which includes ascomycetous fungi. ... Genera Gibberella Hypocrea Hypomyces Nectria Hypocreales is a taxonomic order within the class Sordariomycetes. ... Families xx Clavicipitaceae is a family of fungi within the order Hypocreales. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Classes Archaeascomycetes Hemiascomycetes Euascomycetes Neolectomycetes Pezizomycotina Pneumocystidomycetes Saccharomycotina Schizosaccharomycetes Taphrinomycetes mitosporic Ascomycota Members of the Division Ascomycota are known as the Sac Fungi and are fungi that produce spores in a distinctive type of microscopic sporangium called an ascus (Greek for a bag or wineskin). This monophyletic grouping was formerly... Divisions Chytridiomycota Zygomycota Ascomycota Basidiomycota The Fungi (singular: fungus) are a large group of organisms ranked as a kingdom within the Domain Eukaryota. ... Vegetable caterpillars are the result of infection of large underground caterpillars by a fungus of the genus Cordyceps. ... Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) also known simply as Chinese medicine (Chinese: 中醫學 or 中药学, zhōngyào xŭe) or traditional Oriental medicine, is the name commonly given to a range of China thousands of years ago. ...

All Cordyceps species are parasitic, mainly on insects and other arthropods (they are thus entomopathogenic fungi); a few are parasitic on other fungi like the subterranean, truffle-like Elaphomyces. The mycelium invades and eventually replaces the host tissue, while the elongated fruiting body (stroma) may be cylindrical, branched, or of complex shape. The stroma bears many small, flask-shaped perithecia that contain the asci. These in turn contain the thread-like ascospores, which usually break into fragments and are presumably infective. A parasite is an organism that lives in or on the living tissue of a host organism at the expense of it. ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Symphypleona - globular springtails Subclass Archaeognatha (jumping bristletails) Subclass Dicondylia Monura - extinct Thysanura (common bristletails) Subclass Pterygota Diaphanopteroidea - extinct Palaeodictyoptera - extinct Megasecoptera - extinct Archodonata - extinct Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Blattodea (cockroaches) Mantodea (mantids) Isoptera (termites) Zoraptera Grylloblattodea Dermaptera (earwigs) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders,scorpions, etc. ... An entomopathogenic fungus is a fungus that kills, or parasitizes and seriously disables, insects. ... Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. ... Stroma can refer to: The connective supportive framework of a biological cell, tissue, or organ. ... Diagram of an apothecium showing sterile tissues as well as developing and mature asci. ... An ascus (plural asci) is the spore-bearing container produced in the ascocarps of ascomycete fungi. ... An ascospore is a spore contained in an ascus or that was produced inside an ascus. ...

The genus has a worldwide distribution and most species have been described from Asia (notably China, Japan, Korea and Thailand). The genus has many anamorphs (asexual states), of which Beauveria (possibly including Beauveria bassiana), Metarhizium, and Isaria) are the better known, since these have been used in biological control of insect pests. Cordyceps species are particularly abundant and diverse in humid temperate and tropical forests. For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... This article is about the Korean peninsula and civilization. ... In biology, fungi are placed into particular taxa based on reproductive similarities. ... This article is about human asexuality; asexual reproduction is a separate topic. ... Species Beauveria bassiana (type species) Beauveria brongniartii Beauveria felina and others Beauveria is a genus of asexually-reproducing fungi allied with the ascomycete family Clavicipitaceae. ... Binomial name Beauveria bassiana (Bals. ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Monura - extinct Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (may be paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Palaeodictyoptera - extinct Megasecoptera - extinct Archodonata - extinct Diaphanopterodea - extinct Protodonata - extinct Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Caloneurodea - extinct Titanoptera - extinct Protorthoptera - extinct Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera... Larval form of some beetle is damaging specimen of Sceliphron destillatorius in entomogical collection. ...

Some Cordyceps species are sources of biochemicals with interesting biological and pharmacological properties, like cordycepin; the anamorph of Cordyceps subsessilis (Tolypocladium inflatum) was the source of ciclosporin — a drug helpful in human organ transplants, as it suppresses the immune system (Immunosuppressive drug). Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmacon is drug, and logos is science) is the study of how chemical substances interfere with living systems. ... Cordycepin (3-deoxyadenosine) is a derivative of the nucleoside adenosine, differing from the latter by the absence of oxygen in the 3 position of its ribose part. ... Binomial name W. Gams Tolypocladium inflatum is a fungus isolated from Norwegian soil that, in certain conditions, produces Ciclosporin (Cyclosporine). ... Ciclosporin (INN), cyclosporine or cyclosporin (former BAN), is an immunosuppressant drug. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... An organ transplant is the transplantation of an organ (or part of one) from one body to another, for the purpose of replacing the recipients damaged or failing organ with a working one from the donor. ... A scanning electron microscope image of a single neutrophil (yellow), engulfing anthrax bacteria (orange). ... For a list of immunosuppressive drugs, see the transplant rejection page. ...

Cordyceps has traditionally been used in chronic debilitated patients. It is an excellent herb to tonify the kidney and improve overall bodily constitution.[1]

Cordyceps sinensis

Cordyceps sinensis is a species of fungus found in southwest, mountainous China that attacks caterpillars, specifically the larvae of hepialid moths (identified as species of Hepialus or Thitarodes). The caterpillars feed on the roots of trees and shrubs on the slopes of the Himalayas. When infected by C. sinensis, the bug's entire body cavity is filled by the fungus mycelium, killing the host, and the caterpillars die near the tops of their burrows. A dark brown, finger-like stroma sprouts near their heads. The entire fungus-caterpillar combination is hand-collected for medicinal use. genera Abantiades Aenetus Afrotheora Andeabatis Antihepialus Aoraia Aplatissa Bipectilis Blanchardina Bordaia Calada Callipielus Cibyra Cladoxycanus Dalaca Dioxycanus Druceiella Dumbletonius Elhamma Endoclyta Eudalaca Fraus Gazoryctra Gorgopis Heloxycanus Hepialiscus Hepialus Jeana Korscheltellus Leto Metahepialus Napialus Neohepialus Oncopera Oxycanus Palpifer Parahepialiscus Pfitzneriana Pfitzneriella Pharmacis Phassodes Phassus Phialuse Phymatopus Puermytrans Roseala Schausiana Sthenopis Thitarodes... We dont have an article called Thitarodes Start this article Search for Thitarodes in. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

According to Bensky (2006), laboratory-grown C. sinensis mycelium has similar clinical efficacy and less associated toxicity. He notes a toxicity case of constipation, abdominal distension, and decreased peristalsis, two cases of irregular menstruation, and one case report of amenorrhea following ingestion of tablets or capsules containing C. sinensis. In Chinese medicine C. sinensis is considered sweet and warm, it enters the Lung and Kidney channels, and the typical dosage is 3-9 grams (Bensky 2006).

Cordyceps sinensis, mostly whole dried choice specimens.

In China C. sinensis has been called "Dong Chong Xia Cao," which can be translated "winter worm summer grass." It is also known as Aweto in China and Tibet, and as Yarchagumba in Tibet. In English it is often called "caterpillar fungus" or "vegetable worm." Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 675 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1905 × 1692 pixel, file size: 1,000 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Cordyceps sinensis choice specimens, mostly whole. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 675 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1905 × 1692 pixel, file size: 1,000 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Cordyceps sinensis choice specimens, mostly whole. ... Yarchagumba (Cordyceps sinesis) also popularly known as Yarsagumba in Nepal, is a rare species of parasitic fungus that grows on the bodies of insect larvae. ...

The excessive collecting of Cordyceps sinensis for sale in traditional medicine poses a threat for the environment of the Tibetan plateau where it grows. The high price of wild C. sinensis has led unscrupulous harvesters to insert twigs or even lead wires into the stromata, thereby increasing the weight and price paid. Cultivated C. sinensis mycelium is a more sustainable alternative to wild-harvested C. sinensis, and may offer improved consistency. Artificial culture of C. sinensis is typically by growth of the pure mycelium in liquid culture--stromata are not produced apart from the insect host. Vegetable caterpillars are the result of infection of large underground caterpillars by a fungus of the genus Cordyceps. ... Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province and Sichuan Province of China lie on the Tibetan Plateau. ...

References

• D Bensky, A Gamble, S Clavey, E Stoger, L Lai Bensky. 2006. Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica (3rd ed.). Eastland Press.
• Y Kobayasi. 1941. The genus Cordyceps and its allies. Science Reports of the Tokyo Bunrika Daigaku, Sect. B 5:53-260.
• EB Mains. 1957. Species of Cordyceps parasitic on Elaphomyces. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 84:243-251.
• EB Mains. 1958. North American entomogenous species of Cordyceps. Mycologia 50:169-222.
• SS Tzean, LS Hsieh, WJ Wu. 1997. Atlas of entomopathogenic fungi from Taiwan. Taiwan, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan.

External links

• Photos of Cordyceps fungi
• Video of Cordyceps in action
• Independent Medicinal Research on Cordyceps
• Clinical Potential of C. sinensis by J. Howard
• Fun Facts about Cordyceps