Prevents Cancer

Insights form research on Cordycepin shows anti-cancer and other anti-tumor properties (Shweta et al. 2023). Park et al. (2009) reported that the aqueous extract of C. militaris suppresses proliferation and triggers apoptosis of human lung cancer cells. A recent investigation by Guo et al. (2020) revealed that cordycepin inhibited the development of human liver cancer cells. Also in non-small cell lung cancer, C. militaris has been demonstrated to cause cancer cells to under apoptosis (Shweta et al. 2023).

The mechanism by which Cordyceps inhibits the growth of various cancer cells is thought to occur by several mechanisms of action : by upregulating the body’s own immune function; by selectively inhibiting RNA synthesis, thereby affecting protein synthesis; perhaps by restricting the growth of new blood vessels (anti-angiogenesis); by inducing tumor cell apoptosis (Tuli et al. 2015; Chen et al. 2014; Li et al. 2015); and by the direct cytotoxic effect of cordycepin and other altered nucleosides being taken up by the tumor cells (Zhou et al. 2009).

References:

• Kumar A, Komal, Abdullah S, Shweta. A brief review on the medicinal uses of Cordyceps militaris. Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine (2023) 7:100228.
• Park ES, Yoo HS, Jin CY, Hong SH, Lee YW, Kim BW, Lee SH, Kim WJ, Cho CK, Choi YH. Induction of apoptosis and inhibition of telomerase activity in human lung carcinoma cells by the water extract of Cordyceps militaris. Food and Chemical Toxicology (2009) 47(7):1667-1675.
• Guo Z, Chen W, Dai G, Huang Y. Cordycepin suppresses the migration and invasion of human liver cancer cells by downregulating the expression of CXCR4. International Journal of Molecular Medicine (2020) 45(1):141-150.
• Tuli HS, Kumar G, Sandhu SS, Sharma AK, Kashyap D. Apoptotic effect of cordycepin on A549 human lung cancer cell line. Turkish Journal of Biology (2015) 39(2):306–311.
• Chen Y, Yang SH, Hueng DY, Syu JP, Liao CC, Wu YC. Cordycepin induces apoptosis of C6 glioma cells through the adenosine 2A receptor-p53-caspase-7-PARP pathway. Chemico-Biological Interactions (2014) 216:17–25.
• Li Y, Li R, Zhu S, Zhou R, Wang L, Du J, Wang Y, Zhou B, Mai L. Cordycepin induces apoptosis and autophagy in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH and BE (2)-M17 cells. Oncology Letters (2015) 9(6):2541–2547.
• Zhou X, Gong Z, Su Y, Lin J, Tang K. Cordyceps fungi : natural products, pharmacological functions and developmental products. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (2009) 61(3):279–291.