Advertisement

Ophiocordyceps sinensis: The Medicinal Caterpillar Mushroom

  • Ranjit Singh
  • P. S. Negi
  • Sanjai K. Dwivedi
Chapter
First Online:

Abstract

Ophiocordyceps sinensis, previously known as Cordyceps sinensis, popularly called as caterpillar mushroom is a non-toxic, medicinal fungus found growing in the Himalayan hills in India, Nepal, China and Tibet. In higher hills of Uttarakhand (India), this fungus is locally known as yarsha gamboo or kira ghas, since it parasitizes on the lepidopteran insect larvae of the caterpillar Thitarodes (Hepialus) armoricanus Oberthur of family Hepialidae under the soil (Huang 1999). The grasslands are habitat for Thitarodes armoricanus and hence for Ophiocordyceps sinensis because the former is the host insect for the latter in alpine meadows just above the tree line. Its local name in Uttarakhand is yarsha gamboo which is derived from yartsa gunbu, a Tibetan name meaning summer grass winter worm.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. Anonymous (2015) Annual report, Defence Institute of Bioenergy Research(DRDO), Haldwani, UttarakhandGoogle Scholar
  2. Arif M, Kumar N (2003) Medicinal insects and insect – fungus relationship in high altitude areas of Kumaon Hills in Central Himalayas. J Expt Zoo India 6(1):45–55Google Scholar
  3. Arora D (1986) Mushrooms demystified. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, pp 1–959Google Scholar
  4. Bao TT, Wang GF, Yang JL (1988) Pharmacological actions of Cordyceps. Chung His I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 8(6):352–354Google Scholar
  5. Blackwell M, Gilbertson RL (1984) New information on Cordycepioideus bisporus and Cordycepioideus octosporus. Mycologia 76:763–765CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Boesi A (2003) The dbyarrtswadgun ‘bu (Cordyceps sinensis Berk): an important trade item for the Tibetan population of the Lithang County, Sichuan Province, China. Tibet J 28(3):29–42Google Scholar
  7. Bok JW, Lermer L, Chilton J, Klingeman HG, Towerrs GH (1999) Antitumor sterols from the mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis. Phytochemistry 51(7):891–898CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Chiou WF, Chang PC, Chou CJ, Chen CF (2000) Protein constituent contributes to the hypotensive and vasorelaxant activities of Cordyceps sinensis. Life Sci 66(14):1369–1376CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Christensen CM (1975) Fungus predators and parasites. In: Christensen CM (ed) Moulds, mushrooms and mycotoxins. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, p 164Google Scholar
  10. Das SC, Negi PS, Arif M (2005) YarshaGamboo – the wonder drug of Himalayas. J Appl Zool Res 16(2):250–254Google Scholar
  11. Dubey HC (1983) An introduction to fungi. Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi, pp 231–232Google Scholar
  12. Evans HC, Samson RA (1982) Entomogenous fungi from the Galapagos Islands. Can J Bot 60:2325–2333CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Gao HC, Gao JQ, Xi QY, Li XH (2003) Research and development for Cordyceps sinensis. J Microbiol 23:50–55Google Scholar
  14. Garbyal SS (2001) Occurrence of Cordyceps sinensis in upper Himalaya, Dharchula Sub-Division, Pithoragarh District, Uttaranchal, India. Indian Forester 127(11):1229–1231Google Scholar
  15. Garbyal SS, Aggarwal KK, Babu CR (2004) Impact of Cordyceps sinensis in the rural economy of interior villages of Dharchula sub-division of Kumaun Himalayas and its implication in the society. Indian J Tradt Knowl 3(2):182–186Google Scholar
  16. Guo QC, Zhang C (1995) Clinical observations of adjunctive treatment of 20 diabetic patients with JinShuiBao capsule. J Admin Tradit Chin Med 5:22Google Scholar
  17. Halpern GM (1999) Cordyceps, China’s healing mushroom. Avery Publishing Group, New YorkGoogle Scholar
  18. Hobbs C (1995) Medicinal mushrooms: an exploration of tradition, healing and culture. Botanica Press, Santa Cruz, pp 81–86Google Scholar
  19. Holliday J, Cleaver P, Loomis-Powers M, Patel D (2004) Analysis of quality and techniques for hybridization of medicinal fungus Cordyceps sinensis. Int J Med Mushrooms 6:147–160CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Hodge KT (2003) Clavicipitacaeous anamorphs. In: White JF Jr, Bacon CW, Hywel-Jones NL, Spatafora JW (eds) Clavicipitalean fungi: evolutionary biology, chemistry, biocontrol and cultural impacts. Marcel Dekker Inc, New York, pp 75–123Google Scholar
  21. Huang KC (1999) Tonics and supporting herbs. In: Huang KC (ed) The pharmacology of Chinese Herbs. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 263–264Google Scholar
  22. Huang B, Li C, Humber RA, Hodge KT, Fan M, Li Z (2005) Molecular evidence for the taxonomic status of Metarhiziumtaii and its teleomorph, Cordycepstaii (Hypocreales, Clavicipitaceae). Mycotaxon 94:137–147Google Scholar
  23. Huelsenbeck JP, Ronquist F (2001) MrBAYES: Bayesian inference of phylogenetic trees. Bioinformatics 17:754–755CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Ito Y, Hirano T (1997) The determination of the partial 18S ribosomal DNA sequences of Cordyceps species. Lett Appl Microbiol 25:239–242CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Kendrick B (1992) The fifth kingdom. Focus Publishing, Newburyport, pp 1–406Google Scholar
  26. Kumar N, Negi PS (2003) Micropropagation of Cordyceps sinensis (Berk) Sacc., a high value medicinal fungus wildly growing in Himalayan region. Paper presented during Congress on in vitro Biology held at Portland, Oregon, May 31 – June 4 2003. In vitro Cell Dev Biol 39:1023 (abstract)Google Scholar
  27. Kuo YC, Tsai WJ, Shiao MS, Chen CF, Lin C (1996) Cordyceps sinensis as an immunomodulatory agent. Am J Chin Med 24(2):111–125CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. Li BS (1993) The alpine timberline of Tibet. In: Alden J, Mastrantonio JL, Odum S (eds) Forest development in cold climates. Plenum Press, New York, pp 511–527CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. Li QS, Zeng W, Yin DH, Huang TF (1999) A preliminary study on alternation of generations of Cordyceps sinensis. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 23(4):210–212Google Scholar
  30. Li ZZ, Li CR, Huang B, Fan MZ (2001) Discovery and demonstration of the teleomorph of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill., an important entomopathogenic fungus. Chin Sci Bull 9:751–753CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Liang ZQ (1991) Determination and identification of anamorph of Cordyceps pruinosa. Acta Mycol Sin 10:72–80Google Scholar
  32. Liang ZQ, Liu AY, Liu JL (1991) A new species of the genus Cordyceps and its Metarhizium anamorph. Acta Mycol Sin 10:257–262Google Scholar
  33. Liu ZY, Liang ZQ, Whalley AJS, Yao YJ, Liu AY (2001) Cordyceps brittlebankisoides, a new pathogen of grubs and its anamorph, Metarhizium anisopliae var. majus. J Invertebr Pathol 78:178–182Google Scholar
  34. Manabe N, Sugimoto M, Azuma Y, Taketomo N, Yamashita A, Tsuboi H, Tsunoo A, Kinjo N, Nian-Lai H, Miyamoto H (1996) Effects of the mycelial extract of cultured Cordyceps sinensis on in vivo hepatic energy metabolism in the mouse. Jpn J Pharmacol 70(1):85–88Google Scholar
  35. Massee G (1895) A revision of the genus Cordyceps. Ann Bot 9:1–44CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Negi PS (2006) Systematics of mushrooms of Almora and Pithoragarh Districts. PhD thesis. University of KumaonGoogle Scholar
  37. Negi PS, Singh R, Ahmed Z (2010) Transfer of in vitro technology of Cordyceps to industry: a new hope for Indian Pharmaceuticals. SciRep:17Google Scholar
  38. Nielsen ES, Robinson GS, Wagner DL (2000) Ghost-moths of the world: a global inventory and bibliography of the Exoporia (Mnesarchaeoidea and Hepialoidea) (Lepidoptera). J Nat Hist 34:823–878CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. Petch T (1924) Studies in entomogenous fungus. IV. Some Ceylon Cordyceps. Trans Br Mycol Soc 10:28–45CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. Sharma S (2004) Trade of Cordyceps sinensis from high altitude of the Indian Himalayas: conservation and biotechnological priorities. Curr Sci 86:1614–1619Google Scholar
  41. Singh R, Negi PS, Ahmed Z (2010) Ophiocordyceps sinensis-valuable caterpillar fungus from the Himalayan hills. Curr Sci 99(7)Google Scholar
  42. Spatafora JW, Sung G-H, Sung J-M, Hywel-Jones NL, White JF Jr (2007) Phylogenetic evidence for an animal pathogen origin for ergot and the grass endophytes. Mol Ecol 16:1701–1711CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  43. Sung JM (1996) The insects-born fungus of Korea in color. Kyohak Publishing, SeoulGoogle Scholar
  44. Sung JM (2004) Cordyceps diversity and its preservation in Korea. Inoculum Suppl Mycol 55(4):1–3Google Scholar
  45. Sung G-H, Spatafora JW, Zare R, Hodge KT, Gams W (2001) A revision of Verticillium sect. Prostrata. II. Phylogenetic analyses of SSU and LSU nuclear rDNA sequences from anamorphs and teleomorphs of the Clavicipitaceae. Nova Hedwig 72:311–328Google Scholar
  46. Sung GH, Nigel L Hywel Jones, Sung JM, Jennifer JL, Bhushan S, Spatafora JW (2007a) Phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps and the clavicipitaceous fungi. Studies in Mycology 57: 5–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  47. Sung GH, Sung JM, HywelJones NL, Spatafora JW (2007b) A multi-gene phylogeny of Clavicipitaceae (Ascomycota, fungi): identification of localized incongruence using a combinational bootstrap approach. Mol Phylogenet Evol 44:1204–1223.Google Scholar
  48. UNW (1996) University of Nanjing webpages – catalog of outstanding examples in bioresources of food therapy. http://www.nju.edu.cn/foode/jun/b3.htm
  49. Wang H (1999) Discussion of several issues regarding research and development of Cordyceps sinensis. In: Development of agriculture and pastoral production, vol 6, Nanchang, pp 21–22Google Scholar
  50. Wang Sheng Y, Shiao-Ming S, Wang SY (2000) Pharmacological functions of Chinese medicinal fungus Cordyceps sinensis and related species. J Food Drug Anal 8(4):248–257Google Scholar
  51. Wang SM, Lee LJ, Lin WW, Chung CM (1998a) J Cell Biochem 15 69(4):483–489CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  52. Wang W, Chen T, Li Q, Zhou S, Zhong Y (1998b) Studies on Cordyceps sinensis. II. Reviews concerning agamotype. Acta Edulis Fungi 5(4):17–22Google Scholar
  53. Wasser SP (2002) Medicinal mushrooms as a source of antitumor and immunomodulating polysaccharides. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 60:258–274CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  54. Winkler D (2003) Forest use and implications of the 1998 logging ban in the Tibetan prefectures of Sichuan: case study on forestry, reforestation and NTFP in LitangCounty, Ganzi TAP, China. The ecological basis and sustainable management of forest resources. Informatore Botanico Italiano 35(Supp 1):116–125Google Scholar
  55. Xie Z, Huang X, Lou Z, Li S, Zhou L, Yang Z, Tang Z (1988) Dictionary of traditional Chinese medicine. The Commercial Press, Hong KongGoogle Scholar
  56. Ying JZ, Mao XL, Ma QM, Zong YC, Wen HA (1987) Icones of medicinal fungi from China. Science Press, Beijing, pp 1–575Google Scholar
  57. Zang M, Kinjo N (1998) Notes on the alpine Cordyceps of China and nearby nations. Mycotaxon 66:215–229Google Scholar
  58. Zhu X (1990) Immunosuppressive effect of cultured Cordyceps sinensis on cellular immune response. Chin J Modern Devs Trad Med 10:485–487Google Scholar
  59. Zhu JS, Halpern GM, Jones K (1998) The scientific rediscovery of an ancient Chinese herbal medicine: Cordyceps sinensis. J Altern Complement Med 4(3):289–303CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  • Ranjit Singh
    • 1
  • P. S. Negi
    • 1
  • Sanjai K. Dwivedi
    • 1
  1. 1.Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research, DRDOHaldwaniIndia

Personalised recommendations

Cite chapter

Buy options