Understanding complex biological and chemical relationships
Enzymes, beta glucans and glycol-proteins all have very specific shapes which interact with structures that are on the cells membrane. These “sensors / receptors” on the inside and outside of the cells couple with the mushrooms chemistry and cause the body’s cell to produce a multitude of proteins. In some studies it shows that when cancer cells consume this chemistry from a turkey tail specie that the cancer cell produced new proteins that cause the cancer cells apoptosis in several European studies.
Each protein reacting with the next, like a relay race with many runners involved. This is a cascade reaction. These cascade reactions can be used by the cell to communicate within the cell, or between cells in the body. They can cause genes within the DNA to create more proteins for different biological activity, or cause more enzymes to be produced, which assists many more chemicals to be formed. (9-23)
Cell transductance (communication through these sensors / receptors), can open the cell walls to a flood of calcium ions, or increase the flow of glucose, adrenaline, and insulin across the membrane. These sensors can cause the synthesis of good cholesterol versus bad cholesterol, can cause chemicals to dilate blood vessels, and cause the creation of NO, nitric oxide, to support the cells to produce chemicals to quench free radicals. Because medicinal mushrooms have their own life to live, which in many respects is very similar to an animal’s cell life they have all of the essential amino acids and minerals.
Remember, fungi breathe oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, just as humans do; the mushroom cell needs and uses the same basic building blocks. Fungi therefore contain all the essential amino acids, nucleotides, transition metals, vitamins, including B12, C, niacin, D, L-ergothioneine and a large contingent of enzymes to make the process work. The components of Mushroom blends, are the very same that our cells need. The scientist can create blends according to the health challenges for consumption. These certain mushroom blends are not a neutraceutical mix of chemicals put together in a lab. It is an ancient living life form, and has the correct ratio and amounts of two to four thousand biological chemicals. Specific mushroom species have evolved along side animals, and man is consuming this whole food, reaping the benefit of chemistry that was explicitly designed for a complete healthful life. (24-33)
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Over 2000 patients with various medical disorders have been involved in clinical trials using Cs-4 in China. Cs-4 is a strain of the wild cordyceps sinensis and has been studied extensively in China. The chemical and pharmacological profiles are similar to natural cordyceps sinensis and most of the research available was completed using Cs-4. In traditional Chinese medicine, cordyceps sinensis has been used to treat male impotence and other types of sexual dysfunction. Numerous animal studies and clinical trials have studied the effects of cordyceps sinensis on sexual function.In both animal and human clinical studies, cordyceps sinensis has shown renal protective effects against nephrotoxicity of aminoglycosides and cyclosporin A. Cordyceps sinensisalso has demonstrated hepatoprotective effects in an animal study 7 and in clinical trials. A hypoglycemic effect has been documented in animal studies. 8, 9, 10. Investigators also have reported enhanced immune system activity in animal and in vitro studies with cordyceps sinensis. Cordyceps sinensis has been used as an adjunct in cancer treatment and appears to improve tolerance to the adverse effects associated with radiation and chemotherapy. The anti-inflammatory properties of cordyceps also have been reviewed; however, the mechanism of action has been elucidated. 3
In several placebo-controlled, double-blind studies, patients with reduced sexual drive are typically treated with Cs-4 (3 g/day) for approximately 2 months. In elderly patients, clinical improvement of sexual drive and function for the Cs-4 group was statistically significant as compared with the control group. There was an increase in 24-hour urine 17-ketosteroids in the Cs-4-treated patients; thus Cs-4 may affect sexual drive through the sex hormone systems or through a direct action on the sexual center of the brain and sexual organs. 2, 11, 12
Cs-4 also has been used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and may have a hypocholesterolemic effect. 2, 13 In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 273 patients, the Cs-4 group had a reduction in triglycerides after only 1 month of treatment. Overall, half of the patients on Cs-4 therapy (3 g/day) had reductions in total cholesterol and triglycerides, and a significant increase in high-density Lipoprotein. 2
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, elderly patients with senescence-related symptoms had significant improvements in tolerance to cold ( P < 0.001), fatigue ( P < 0.001), dizziness ( P < 0.001), tinnitus ( P= 0.001), frequent nocturia ( P= 0.004), hyposexuality ( P = 0.05), and amnesia ( P = 0.003). Patients were randomly assigned and received either Cs-4 (3 g/day) or placebo for 3 months. There was a concurrent increase in red blood cell superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity ( P < 0.001). Reduction in SOD is recognized as one of the factors related to aging and may lead to accumulation of excessive oxygen-free radicals and oxidative damage to cells. 2
In a 3-month, open-label clinical trial, Cs-4 was used to treat 38 elderly patients with various arrhythmias. The investigators concluded that Cs-4 was effective in treating patients with tachyarrhythmia and bradyarrhythmia, and the longer the therapy duration, the better the clinical improvement. The majority of patients with supraventricular arrhythmias experienced partial to complete recovery in the electrocardiograms. 3, 14
A 26-month trial using Cs-4 (3 to 4 g/day) in combination with standard therapy (digoxin, hydrochlorothiazide, isosorbide dinitrate, furosemide, lanatoside, dopamine, and dobutamine) was studied in 64 chronic heart failure patients. Patients using Cs-4 as an adjuvant treatment reported improvement in general physical, emotional, and psychological well-being as compared with controls. There were no statistically significant differences in mortality between the two groups. Overall, patients taking Cs-4 had statistically significant improvements in the shortness of breath /fatigue index ( P < 0.01), general physical condition ( P < 0.05), emotional-psychological condition ( P < 0.05), and sexual drive ( P < 0.001) as compared with controls. 2
In an open-label, clinical trial, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease reported improvements in cough, phlegm, appetite, vitality, and pulmonary symptoms after treatment with Cs-4 (3 g/day for 3 weeks) compared with controls. There was a significant increase in SOD activity ( P < 0.001) compared with baseline. In another open-label, clinical trial, patients with chronic renal dysfunction also had significant increases in SOD activity ( P < 0.001) compared with pretreatment levels after treatment with Cs-4 (5 g/day for 4 weeks). 2
More than 5 clinical studies (all approximately 4 weeks in duration) demonstrated significant clinical improvements ( P< 0.01) in respiratory symptoms (including chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and cor pulmonale) after administration of a cordyceps-containing medication. Dosages ranged from 3 to 4.5 g/day of Cs-4 for 2 to 12 weeks. When Cs-4 was used in combination with oxygen and other drugs in treating patients with cor pulmonale (right-sided heart failure), improvements were seen in respiratory and heart function as well as in sleep and emotional-spiritual state. The combined use of Cs-4 (3 g/day) with astemizole (10 mg/day) and ketotifen (2 mg/day) was effective in treatment of asthma as compared with the controls treated with Western medicine alone ( P< 0.05). A potential mechanism may involve Cs-4 reducing the production of IgE (which will reduce the asthma attack) through T H1 and T H2 immune responses. 3, 15
C. sinensis may improve kidney function and have renal protective effects against nephrotoxic chemicals. Cs-4 (6 g/day for 30 days) was effective in improving renal function in 30 patients with chronic renal failure. Compared with pretreatment levels (not necessarily a valid reference point), investigators reported significant improvement in serum creatinine ( P < 0.02), red blood cell count ( P < 0.05), anemia ( P< 0.02), creatinine clearance ( P < 0.001), and blood urea nitrogen ( P < 0.01). Another study found similar significant improvements as well as reduction in urinary protein ( P< 0.01). Results from other studies suggest improvement of renal function by C. sinensis linked with involvement of T-cell-mediated immune functions. In one study, elderly patients (53 to 73 years of age) with no history of renal disease were treated IM or IV with amikacin (0.4 g/day for 6 days) with either placebo or C. sinensis (6 g/day for 7 days) for the treatment of an acute infection. After the therapy, the accumulated 24-hour urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) level was increased by 4 times in controls compared with double in those patients receiving C. sinensis ( P< 0.05). NAG is an index for aminoglycoside-induced renal damage. 3, 16
In a 3-month, open-label trial of 33 patients, a cultivated mycelial product of C. sinensis was effective in the treatment of chronic active hepatitis B. Investigators reported after the treatment that the thymol turbidity test (TTT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) either improved or returned to normal. In addition, serum albumin increased and gamma globulin decreased significantly. No significant changes were seen in TTT or ALT in another study of 22 patients with hepatic cirrhosis; although significant improvements were seen in serum albumin ( P < 0.01) and gamma globulin ( P < 0.05). Other references referred to in this report have shown similar results. 3
In a randomized trial involving 42 patients with diabetes, Cs-4 (3 g/day for 30 days) was found to be an effective treatment in combination with traditional Chinese herbs compared with a control group given only the herbs. Patients in the treatment group previously had a positive urinary protein test; after treatment, half of these patients tested negative compared with no change in the controls. 3
One study demonstrated enhanced activity of natural killer (NK) cells in patients with leukemia and in immunocompetent individuals. It also prevented reductions in NK cell activity in immunosuppressed mice. 3
In 59 patients with terminal lung cancer, administration of Cs-4 (2 to 3 g/day) resulted in more patients completing radiation and/or chemotherapy compared with a control group ( P < 0.01). Cs-4 also may minimize bone marrow impairment because patients in the Cs-4 treatment group had normal blood counts as compared with the control group ( P< 0.01). One study concluded that the fruiting body of C. sinensis contains growth inhibitors against tumor cells. 3 , 6
Investigators studied the effect of a fraction of mycelia of C. sinensis (150 mg/kg/day) for its antifatigue and antistress effects against a stimulus (swimming endurance capacity) in vivo using rats and mice. The researchers concluded the fraction of mycelia of C. sinensis has antifatigue and antistress effects on the following stress indices: serum level measurements of total cholesterol, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase. 12, 17 Investigators have reported the following pharmacological activities of natural C. sinensis on the cardiovascular system in animal studies in vivo or with isolated organs: Dilation of arteries and improvement of nutritional blood supply to organs and extremities; reduction of heart rate; antiarrhythmic effects; effects against acute myocardial ischemia and stress-induced myocardial infarction; and effects of thrombosis and anti-aggregation of platelets.
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6. Bok JW, Lermer L, Chilton J, Klingeman HG, Towers GH. Antitumor sterols from the mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis . Phytochemistry . 1999;51:891-898.
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8. Zhao CS, Yin WT, Wang JY, et al. CordyMax Cs-4 improves glucose metabolism and increases insulin sensitivity in normal rats. J Altern Complement Med . 2002;8:309-314.
9. Balon TW, Jasman AP, Zhu JS. A fermentation product of Cordyceps sinensis increases whole-body insulin sensitivity in rats. J Altern Complement Med . 2002;8:315-323.
10. Hockaday TD. Two herbal preparations, Cordyceps Cs4 and Cogent db: do they act on blood glucose, insulin sensitivity, and diabetes as “viscous dietary fibers?” J Altern Complement Med . 2002;8:403-405.
11. Hsu CC, Tsai SJ, Huang YL, Huang BM. Regulatory mechanism of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium on mouse Leydig cell steroidogenesis. FEBS Lett . 2003;543:140-143.
12. Hsu CC, Huang YL, Tsai SJ, Sheu CC, Huang BM. In vivo and in vitro stimulatory effects of Cordyceps sinensis on testosterone production in mouse Leydig cells. Life Sci . 2003;73:2127-2136.
13. Koh JH, Kim JM, Chang UJ, Suh HJ. Hypocholesterolemic effect of hot-water extract from mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis . Biol Pharm Bull . 2003;26:84-87.
14. Chiou WF, Chang PC, Chou CJ, Chen CF. Protein constituent contributes to the hypotensive and vasorelaxant activities of Cordyceps sinensis . Life Sci . 2000;66:1369-1376.
15. Kuo YC, Tsai WJ, Wang JY, Chang SC, Lin CY, Shiao MS. Regulation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids cell function by the immunomodulatory agents from Cordyceps sinensis . Life Sci . 2001:68:1067-1082.
16. Shahed AR, Kim SI, Shoskes DA. Down-regulation of apoptotic and inflammatory genes by Cordyceps sinensis extract in rat kidney following ischemia/reperfusion. Transplant Proc . 2001;33:2986-2987.
17. Koh JH, Kim KM, Kim JM, Song JC, Suh HJ. Antifatigue and antistress effect of the hot-water fraction from mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis . Biol Pharm Bull . 2003;26:691-694
Photographs of the Cordycep: http://ocid.nacse.org/research/cordyceps/html/images.html
More information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordyceps