HEALTH BENEFITS OF Cordyceps militaris: OVERVIEW
NANCY SHARMA
University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab, 140413 India.
VIPASHA SHARMA
University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab, 140413 India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
For centuries, traditional Chinese medicine has relied on medicinal mushrooms as a panacea to strengthen the immune system and revitalize the human body, because mushrooms have different biological functions. The bio-active compounds of this fungus contain cordycepin, cordymin, ergosterol, glycoproteins and polysaccharides which are considered as immunity enhancers and beneficial in various treatments related to kidney, hyperglycemia and liver damage. In the present review, we will focus on Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) which is known as an essential medicine for potential therapeutic uses. Some ailments like thrombolytic effect, diabetic, melanogenesis and infertility are effectively healed by using constituents extracted from C. militaris. Hence, C. militaris is providing an understanding of all its constituent and novel therapeutic strategies to cure diseases.
Keywords: Cordyceps militaris, therapeutic uses, cancer, cordymin, polysaccharides