General

Scientific Names: Cordyceps militaris (L.) Link

Common Names: Yong Cao, Yong Cong Cao, Bei Dong Cong Xia Cao, Bei Chong Cao.

BOTANICAL:

来 源： 隶属真菌门、子囊菌亚门、麦角菌目、麦角菌科、虫草属 。 是蛹蟲草真菌寄生在鱗翅目、鞘翅目、雙翅目等昆蟲蛹體上形成子座，昆蟲蛹體與子座的結合體。

动植物特征： 在形态上与冬虫夏草有相似之处，其无性型为蛹草拟青霉和蛹草轮枝霉，寄生在夜蛾科昆虫的蛹上，子座单生或数个，从寄主头部或节部长出，呈橙黄色，高2-5厘米，头部棒形，长1-2厘米，粗0.3-0.5厘米不等。寄主的蛹圆锥形，有环缢。

Pharmacology

化学成分: 蛹虫草蛋白质含量高达40.7%，比冬虫夏草高15.3倍，氨基酸种类齐全，含人体必需氨基酸，并含有21种微量元素，锰、铜、磷、钙、铁、锌、硒等的含量非常丰富，同时含有虫草酸、虫草素、虫草多糖、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）以及亚油酸和软脂酸等。其中虫草素的含量比冬虫夏草高2-5倍，亚油酸和软脂酸则高40%以上。

Efficacy

Cordyceps militaris is a traditional herbal ingredient, which has been used for patients suffering from cancer in Oriental medicine. In the present study, we investigated the biochemical mechanisms of anti-proliferative effects by aqueous extract of C. militaris (AECM) in human leukemia U937 cells. It was found that AECM could inhibit cell growth of U937 cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with morphological change and apoptotic cell death such as formation of apoptotic bodies and DNA fragmentation. We observed the down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression and proteolytic activation of caspase-3 in AECM-treated U937 cells. However, AECM did not affect the pro-apoptotic Bax expression and activity of caspase-9. Furthermore, Western blotting and RT-PCR revealed that AECM treatment caused a dose-dependent inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2 accumulation. Taken together, these results indicated that the anti-proliferative effects of AECM were associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death through regulation of several major growth regulatory gene products such as Bcl-2 family expression and caspase protease activity, and AECM may have therapeutic potential in human leukemia treatment. (source)

Cordyceps militaris extract inhibited growth of HUVECs and HT1080 (P<0.01). Cordyceps militaris extract 100 and 200 mg/L reduced MMP-2 gene expression in HT1080 cells by 6.0 % and 22.9 % after 3-h and 14.9 % and 32.8 % after 6-h treatment. Cordyceps militaris extract did not affect MMP-9 gene expression in B16-F10 melanoma cells. Cordyceps militaris extract 100 and 200 mg/L also reduced bFGF gene expression in HUVECs by 22.2 % and 41.3 %. Cordyceps militaris extract inhibited tube formation of endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. Cordyceps militaris extract repressed the growth of B16-F10 melanoma cells in mice compared with control group (P<0.05). Cordyceps militaris extract has antiangiogenetic properties. (source)

虫草素是一种具有抗菌活性的核苷类物质，对核多聚腺苷酸聚合酶有很强的抑制作用。在DNA转录mRNA过程中使mRNA成熟障碍，抑制癌细胞的生长。并有 降血糖的作用。 虫草多糖是一种高度分枝的半乳甘露聚糖，它能促进淋巴细胞转化，提高血清IgG的抗体含量和机体的免疫功能，增强机体自身抗癌抑癌的能力。 SOD（超氧化物歧化酶）可以消除机体内超氧自由基，具有抗衰老、抗癌抑癌的作用。 此外，蛹虫草还含有丰富的硒（Se),这种微量元素已被大家公认是人体必需的微量元素，是谷胱甘肽过氧化酶的活性中心，以硒半胱氨酸的形式连接在酶蛋白的 肽链上，保护细胞膜的稳定性的正常的通透性，并刺激免疫球蛋白和抗体的产生，增强机体免疫和抗氧化能力。同时，大量的科学实践证明硒可以明显地抑制癌细胞 的生长。 (source)

IN VITRO:

1. Park C, et al., Growth inhibition of U937 leukemia cells by aqueous extract of Cordyceps militaris through induction of apoptosis. Oncol Rep. 2005 Jun; 13(6):1211-6.
2. Wang BJ, et al., Free radical scavenging and apoptotic effects of Cordyceps sinensis fractionated by supercritical carbon dioxide. Food Chem Toxicol. 2005 Apr; 43(4):543-52.
3. Wojcikowski K, et al., Medicinal herbal extracts--renal friend or foe? Part two: herbal extracts with potential renal benefits. Nephrology (Carlton). 2004 Dec; 9(6):400-5. Review.
4. Zhang Q, et al., Induction of HL-60 apoptosis by ethyl acetate extract of Cordyceps sinensis fungal mycelium. Life Sci. 2004 Oct 29; 75(24):2911-9.
5. Chen YC, et al., Cordyceps sinensis mycelium activates PKA and PKC signal pathways to stimulate steroidogenesis in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2005 Jan; 37(1):214-23.
6. Yoo HS, et al., Effects of Cordyceps militaris extract on angiogenesis and tumor growth. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2004 May; 25(5):657-65.
7. Liu J, et al., [Anticarcinogenic effect and hormonal effect of Cordyceps militaris Link.]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1997 Feb; 22(2):111-3, inside back cover. Chinese.
8. Chassy BM, et al., Nucleoside antibiotics. IV. Metabolic fate of adenosine and cordycepin by Cordyceps militaris during cordycepin biosynthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1969 Jun 17; 182(2):307-15.
   
   

IN VIVO:

1. Yoo HS, et al., Effects of Cordyceps militaris extract on angiogenesis and tumor growth. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2004 May; 25(5):657-65.
2. Nakamura K, et al., Combined effects of Cordyceps sinensis and methotrexate on hematogenic lung metastasis in mice. Receptors Channels. 2003; 9(5):329-34.
3. Liu J, et al., [Anticarcinogenic effect and hormonal effect of Cordyceps militaris Link.]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1997 Feb; 22(2):111-3, inside back cover. Chinese.
   

Safety