Cordyceps
Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc.Cordycipitaceae // fungus/stroma and host complex · cultivated mycelium
Overview
Plant parts
fungus/stroma and host complex, cultivated mycelium
Known constituents
cordycepin in some species, adenosine, polysaccharides
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include cordycepin in some species; adenosine; polysaccharides; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Cordyceps has been used for fatigue; respiratory and kidney support; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (fatigue; respiratory and kidney support), the evidence assessment is insufficient: Insufficient clinical evidence; studies often use variable cultivated products and combinations.
LOW · regulatory monograph and mixed scientific literature · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
Preparation
Forms used traditionally
A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.
PREPARATION: The medicinal material is fungus/stroma and host complex; cultivated mycelium; traditional and modern forms include traditional whole-material preparation, extract/capsule. No dose or potency is specified.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Preparation-specific evidence should not be generalized across extracts, teas, oils, or whole herb.
Safety
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
SAFETY: Major issues include GI upset; allergy; contamination concerns. Contraindications/cautions include Autoimmune/transplant settings caution.
MODERATE · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include May interact with immunosuppressants, anticoagulants and glucose-lowering drugs.
MODERATE · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements
Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.
SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Insufficient pregnancy/lactation evidence.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Identity
- Former name
GBIF treats the corpus name Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. as a synonym and points to Ophiocordyceps sinensis as the accepted usage.
MODERATE · GBIF Species Match API
Botanical synonym
Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H.Sung et al. is current accepted name
Taxonomic identity note
- Cordyceps is treated here as Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. in the family Cordycipitaceae; recorded older names include Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H.Sung et al. is current accepted name.
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
WHO monograph
NIH LiverTox monograph
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
EMA monograph
- GBIF Species Match API1 claim
authoritative taxonomic database