Does Cordyceps boost the immune system?
Wouldn't it be ironic if a fungus that turns insects into zombies could supercharge your immune system? Meet Cordyceps militaris, a remarkable fungus renowned in traditional medicine for centuries and now the focus of groundbreaking research. At Bffd, we're committed to keeping you informed about the latest findings. Recent research has uncovered that specific extracts from Cordyceps militaris can uniquely modulate the immune system—either enhancing your body's defense against pathogens or calming an overactive immune response. Curious about the data behind these powerful claims? Want to understand what this means for your health and how quickly you might see results? Strap in as we explore the fascinating immunomodulatory effects of Cordyceps militaris.
Type 1 and Type 2 Immunity
The review article titled, "Trends in the Immunomodulatory Effects of Cordyceps militaris: Total Extracts, Polysaccharides and Cordycepin" provides a fantastic breakdown of type 1 versus type 2 immunity. The figure on the right is figure 3 from this article which describes the difference between type 1 and type 2 immunity.
Immune System Overview
The immune system can be divided into two main types of responses: Type 1 and Type 2 immunity. Each type plays a crucial role in protecting the body and maintaining health.
Type 1 Immunity
- The "aggressors"
- The body's way of targeting and eliminating harmful invaders such as viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells
- Powered by certain compounds such as:
- Natural killer (NK) cells
- Attack and destroy virus-infected cells and cancer cells
- Th1 cells
- A type of helper T cell that stimulates the activity of other immune cells
- Cytokines
- These are proteins that help cells communicate and orchestrate the immune response
- Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)
- Cytokine that activates immune cells and enhances their ability to kill pathogens
- Interleukin-2 (IL-2)
- Cytokine that promotes the growth and activity of T cells
Type 2 Immunity
- The "repair crew"
- Monitors external threats, repairs tissues, manages inflammation, and assists with healing
- Main players in the type 2 response are:
- Th2 cells
- A type of helper T cell that supports the production of antibodies and fights off parasites
- Eosinophils and basophils
- White blood cells that release chemicals to cause inflammation to combat parasites, pathogens, and allergens
- Mast cells
- Immune cells that release chemicals to cause inflammation, attracting other immune cells to the site of an infection or injury
- Regulatory T Cells (Tregs)
- Suppresses excessive immune response by releasing cytokines
- Interleukin-10 (IL-10)
- Cytokine that suppresses inflammatory response and promotes healing
- Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β)
- Cytokine that regulates immune response and promotes tissue repair
- Macrophages (M2 type)
- Promote tissue repair and resolve inflammation
- Immunoglobulin E (IgE)
- Antibody involved in the body's reaction to allergens, parasitic infections, by promoting an immune response through inflammation
Data on the Immunomodulatory Functions of Cordyceps militaris
Next, we are going to look at some data from the review article we mentioned above titled "Trends in the Immunomodulatory Effects of Cordyceps militaris: Total Extracts, Polysaccharides and Cordycepin". A lot of these review articles are done with mice, rats, or other animals, so not all of these findings will be generalizable to humans. However, it gives an insight into the potential impact that Cordyceps militaris and the compounds isolated from Cordyceps militaris may have.
Total Cordyceps Extracts
| Author | Biocompound Affected | Cordyceps Extract Used | Amount Used | Duration | Effect | Control Comparison | Extract Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim et al. (2008) | IFN-γ | Water extract | 20 mg/kg | Unknown | Increased IFN-γ secretion | Baseline IFN-γ levels | Significant increase in IFN-γ |
| Hsu et al. (2008) | IgE | Water extract | 4 g/kg/day | Days 15-27 | Decreased serum IgE levels | 1833.52 ± 402.03 ng/ml IgE | 1591.35 ± 350.68 ng/ml IgE |
| Zhu et al. (2013) | IL-2, IFN-γ | Fresh and dried extracts | 50-200 mg/kg | Unknown | Increased IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion | Baseline IL-2 and IFN-γ levels | Significant increase in IL-2 and IFN-γ |
| Lee et al. (2014) | IL-12, TNF-α | Unknown | 30-300 mg/kg/day | 7 days | Increased IL-12, reduced TNF-α | Baseline IL-12 and TNF-α levels | IL-12 elevated, TNF-α reduced |
Overview from this data:
Different types of Cordyceps extracts appear to:
- Increase IL-2, IL-12, and IFN-γ responses
- IL-2 (Interleukin-2): Promotes the growth and activity of T cells, enhancing the immune response
- IL-12 (Interleukin-12): Activates natural killer (NK) cells and T cells, crucial for the immune response against pathogens
- IFN-γ (Interferon-gamma): Activates immune cells and enhances their ability to kill pathogens
- Implication: Suggests an enhancement of the immune system’s ability to kill pathogens
- Decrease serum IgE levels
- IgE (Immunoglobulin E): An antibody that can contribute to inflammation if not properly regulated.
- Implication: Suggests a potential anti-inflammatory response by lowering IgE levels.
- Decrease TNF-α levels
- TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha): A cytokine typically associated with the inflammatory response.
- Implication: Suggests an anti-inflammatory response by reducing TNF-α levels
Polysaccharides
Let's first take a look at some of the polysaccharides we'll be discussing below.
- Cordyceps Polysaccharide 1 (CPS-1):
- Found in: Cordyceps militaris
- Uniqueness: The specific structure and composition of CPS-1 are unique to Cordyceps militaris, although other fungi might have similar polysaccharides with different compositions.
- Cysinocan:
- Found in: Cordyceps militaris
- Uniqueness: Similar to CPS-1, Cysinocan’s specific structure and bioactive properties are unique to Cordyceps militaris.
- Cordlan:
- Found in: Cordyceps militaris
- Uniqueness: The specific function of inducing dendritic cell maturation is a characteristic of Cordlan from Cordyceps militaris.
- General Polysaccharides:
- Found in: Cordyceps militaris and many other fungi, plants, and microorganisms.
- Uniqueness: While general polysaccharides can be found in a variety of organisms, the exact structure and bioactive properties vary, contributing to unique biological activities in each source.
| Author | Biocompound Affected | Cordyceps Polysaccharide Used | Amount Used | Duration | Effect | Control Comparison | Polysaccharide Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yu et al. (2004) | IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α | CPS-1 | 50-200 mg/kg | Unknown | Reduced IL-1β by 48.3-71.7%, IL-6, and TNF-α levels | Baseline levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α | Significant reduction in IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α |
| Cheung et al. (2009) | IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 | Cysinocan | 6-8.5 μg/ml | Unknown | Increased IL-2 by 8.5 μg/ml, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 secretion | Baseline levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and T cell activity | Significant increase in IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 |
| Kim et al. (2010) | IL-12, IL-1β, TNF-α | Cordlan | 10-100 μg/ml | Unknown | Increased IL-12, IL-1β, TNF-α levels significantly compared to immature dendritic cells | Immature dendritic cells | Maturation of dendritic cells, increased IL-12, IL-1β, TNF-α |
| Wang et al. (2012) | IL-2, TNF-α, Lymphocyte Proliferation | Polysaccharides | 17.5-70 mg/kg | Day 4 to Day 18 | Reversed spleen and thymus indices, increased lymphocyte proliferation, reduced oxidative stress markers | Reduced spleen and thymus indices, lower lymphocyte proliferation, higher oxidative stress markers | Reversed spleen and thymus indices, increased lymphocyte proliferation, reduced oxidative stress mark |
Overview from data is that Cordyceps polysaccharides appear to:
- Reduce IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels:
- IL-1β (Interleukin-1 beta): A pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses.
- IL-6 (Interleukin-6): A cytokine that plays a role in inflammation and infection responses.
- TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha): A cytokine involved in systemic inflammation.
- Implication: Suggests an anti-inflammatory response by reducing these pro-inflammatory cytokines.
- Increase IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-γ responses:
- IL-2 (Interleukin-2): Promotes the growth and activity of T cells, enhancing the immune response.
- IL-10 (Interleukin-10): Suppresses inflammatory responses and promotes healing.
- IFN-γ (Interferon-gamma): Activates immune cells and enhances their ability to kill pathogens.
- Implication: Suggests an enhancement of the immune system’s ability to manage inflammation and improve pathogen clearance.
- Enhance T cell proliferation and dendritic cell maturation:T cells: Essential for the immune system’s response to pathogens.
- Dendritic cells: Act as messengers between the innate and the adaptive immune systems.
- Implication: Indicates improved immune function and readiness to respond to infections.
- Improve overall immune function and antioxidation:
- Lymphocyte proliferation: Increased numbers of lymphocytes indicate a robust immune response.
- Antioxidative activity: Reducing oxidative stress helps maintain overall health and immune function.
- Implication: Shows potential for Cordyceps polysaccharides to support overall immune health and reduce oxidative damage.
Cordycepin
Cordycepin is a valuable bioactive compound produced by Cordyceps militaris, discovered in the early 1950s. We've written extensively about it. It is also known as the "signature compound" of Cordyceps. We tend to look at maximizing our cordycepin potency when growing our Cordyceps at Bffd.
| Author | Biocompound Affected | Amount Used | Duration | Effect | Control Comparison | Cordycepin Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim et al. (2006) | iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α | 5-30 μg/ml | Unknown | Reduced iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-α expression | Baseline levels of iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-α | Significant reduction in iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-α |
| Kim et al. (2009) | TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS, COX-2 | 5-40 μg/ml | Unknown | Reduced TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS, COX-2 levels | Baseline levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS, COX-2 | Significant reduction in pro-inflammatory markers |
| Jeong et al. (2010) | iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β | 1-7.5 μg/ml | Unknown | Reduced iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β expression | Baseline levels of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β | Significant reduction in pro-inflammatory markers |
| Yang et al. (2015) | IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 | Unknown | Unknown | Reduced IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 levels | Baseline levels of IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 | Significant reduction in IgE and Th2 cytokines |
| Choi et al. (2014) | iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, TNF-α | 10-30 μg/ml | Unknown | Reduced iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, TNF-α expression | Baseline levels of iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, TNF-α | Significant reduction in pro-inflammatory markers |
Cordycepin appears to:
- Reduce iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-α levels:
- iNOS (Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase): An enzyme associated with inflammation and cellular damage.
- COX-2 (Cyclooxygenase-2): An enzyme that produces prostaglandins, leading to inflammation.
- TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha): A cytokine involved in systemic inflammation.
- Implication: Suggests an anti-inflammatory response by reducing these pro-inflammatory markers.
- Reduce IL-6, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 levels:
- IL-6 (Interleukin-6): A cytokine that plays a role in inflammation and infection responses.
- IL-1β (Interleukin-1 beta): A pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses.
- IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 (Interleukins): Th2 cytokines involved in the regulation of immune responses.
- Implication: Suggests both anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.
- Decrease serum IgE levels:
- IgE (Immunoglobulin E): An antibody that can contribute to allergic inflammation.
- Implication: Suggests a potential anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic response by lowering IgE levels.
- Modulate macrophage activity and reduce T cell activation:
- Macrophages: Immune cells that engulf and digest pathogens and cellular debris.
- T cells: Crucial for the immune system’s response to pathogens.
- Implication: Indicates improved immune regulation and potential therapeutic benefits in inflammation and immune-related diseases.
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Cordyceps militaris, a fascinating fungus with a history steeped in traditional medicine, is showing promising potential in modern scientific research for its immune-boosting properties. It appears to enhance the body's defense mechanisms through type 1 immunity responses and manages and repairs tissues via type 2 immunity responses. As we looked at here, Cordyceps militaris extracts, polysaccharides, and cordycepin demonstrate significant immunomodulatory effects. Whether it's reducing pro-inflammatory markers or increasing crucial cytokines, the diverse compounds found in Cordyceps militaris could be key players in maintaining a balanced and robust immune system. As we continue to uncover and understand these effects, the potential health benefits of incorporating Cordyceps militaris into our daily routines become ever more compelling. At Bffd, we're excited to bring you the latest insights and products harnessing the power of this remarkable fungus, supporting your journey toward better health and well-being. Stay tuned as we dive deeper into the wonders of Cordyceps militaris and its impact on our health.
Any mistakes made or missed citations in this articles are the fault of mine and mine alone.
Be your best,
Johnny
References and Further Reading
Lee, C.-T., Huang, K.-S., Shaw, J.-F., Chen, J.-R., Kuo, W.-S., Shen, G., Grumezescu, A. M., Holban, A. M., Wang, Y.-T., Wang, J.-S., Hsiang, Y.-P., Lin, Y.-M., Hsu, H.-H., & Yang, C.-H. (2020). Trends in the immunomodulatory effects of Cordyceps militaris: Total extracts, polysaccharides and cordycepin. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, 575704. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.575704
Bffd Blog - How does cordycepin work?
For those interested in exploring the scientific basis of cordyceps benefits further, reputable sources such as PubMed and Google Scholar offer a wealth of research articles and studies on the topic.
Stay up to date with Bffd Cordyceps Research on our YouTube Channel, Instagram and website.
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