A brief review on the medicinal uses of Cordyceps militaris

Cordyceps, a popular Chinese medication, is made by drying caterpillar-borne Cordyceps fungus. The parasite needs an insect host or larvae host to survive. To strengthen those who were lacking in vitality, it was administered in tonic form. The biological effects of Cordyceps species are well documented. Its medicinal properties are because of the chemical constituents present in the mushroom namely cordycepin, cordymin, polysaccharides, glycoprotein, ergosterol, and other extracts. Some of the biological activities of C.militaris are anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, immunomodulatory, antimicrobials, immunosuppressive, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, neuroprotective, and fertility enhancer. Because of their bioactive compounds, edible fungus like C. militaris is a multifunctional food supplement. Many mushroom species can be grown on domestic refuse, popularizing the mushroom industry in sustainable economies worldwide. C. militaris extract can improve health when added to the diet. Further, the complexity of clinical investigations and the challenges of developing therapies using mushroom extracts are both exacerbated by the abundance of bioactive chemicals present in mushrooms. Cordycepin has the most therapeutic potential of all the bioactive compounds described in the studies. Recent studies indicate that cordycepin may be effective against COVID-19′s SARS-CoV-2 strain. Therefore, this review lays the groundwork for clinical use and examines the research program for the near future.