Healthcare Functions of Cordyceps cicadae

Abstract

Cordyceps cicadae (C. cicadae) is one of the most valued traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) and have been used for about 1,600 years in China. Both TCM works and modern pharmacological studies indicate that C. cicadae exhibits a variety of biological functions, including vision improvement and protection of renal function. There are at least five active ingredients in C. cicadae, suggesting that further exploration on bioactive metabolites of C. cicadae is expected to expand for its application scope and better exert its healthcare efficacy. Because of the shortage of wild C. cicadae, artificially cultivated is an ideal substitute. The methods we developed include fruiting body production based on wild culture matrix, cultivation based on infected nymphs, liquid fermentation of mycelium. Safety evaluation of the artificially cultivated C. cicadae is important in development of C. cicadae-related product. No toxic effect was observed in the acute toxicity test (piglet), 3 different test systems of genotoxicity test, a 90- day oral toxicity test (rats), as well as teratogenicity test of C. cicadae mycelium. C. cicadae possesses multiple pharmacological activities that offers several featured advantages such as low toxicity, low price and easy availability of raw materials from artificial cultivation, paving a broad way for functional products and supplements incorporating healthcare foods, cosmetics, biological agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.