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CordyMax enhances endurance performance and exercise metabolism in mid-age to elderly humans
Abstract
Traditionally anti-fatigue assessment was relied on symptom analysis. Objective assessment of physical capability of anti-fatigue and endurance after tonic herb therapies became crucial to modernization of TCM. CordyMax, a standardized mycelial Paecilomyces hepiali fermentation product of Cordyceps sinensis, is known as a medicinal product for invigoration, health preservation, anti-aging, and anti-fatigue. We examined its anti-fatigue and endurance enhancement properties by use of sports medicine technology in 3 double-blind clinical trials. CordyMax increased VO2max, anaerobic threshold, O2 pulse, and maximal ventilation during exercise, indicating improved aerobic capacity and physical capability of healthy sedentary adults of mid- or advance ages. In young, endurance-conditioned male athletes, it increased VO2max and O2 pulse, reduced heart rate, RER, and blood lactic acid during endurance exercise and reduced fasting blood glucose and resting diastolic BP. It also accelerated cardiovascular recovery after peak exercise. In summary, CordyMax supplementation influences favorably aerobic capacity and cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic functions during endurance exercise, and improves fatigue and endurance performance.
... The wild fungus along with the cultivated varieties as well as cultured mycelia, fruiting body and extracts reportedly possesses diverse medicinal properties (Valverde et al., 2015). Owing to these properties, it has been employed to treat various rehabilitation disorders such as arrhythmias, asthenia after severe illness, bronchitis, cancer, hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia, hyposexuality, liver disease, lungs disorders, night sweating, renal dysfunction and renal failure etc. (Donohue, 1996;Han, 1995;Manfreda et al., 1989;Qiuo and Ma, 1993;Tuli et al., 2014;Zheng and Deng, 1995;Zhou et al., 2009;Zhu and Rippe, 2001). Considering, its wide medicinal properties, the fungus is regarded as "soft gold" in China and is extremely high in price; approximately USD $20,000 to 40,000 per kg (Jang et al., 2015;Lo et al., 2013). ...
Cordyceps sinensis (C. sinensis) is well established as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has
been valued as a health food for centuries. It is an entomopathogenic fungus in Ascomycetes that naturally
occurs at high altitude in Himalayan region and has received considerable attention due to the abundance of
various biologically active compounds. Despite having reported health benefits and economic importance,
qualitative phytochemical analysis, proximate composition and proteome study of Indian isolates of C. sinensis
grown at high altitude remains untapped. In the present study, qualitative phytochemical analysis was carried
on powdered whole body of C. sinensis (CSWb) and its aqueous extract (CSAq) prepared by accelerated solvent
extraction technique which indicated the presence of several bioactive constituents such as alkaloids, amino
acids and proteins, carbohydrates, flavonoids and phenols, gums, mucilages and saponins. We evaluated chemical
composition of the Indian Himalayan medicinal mushroom C. sinensis in terms of its carbohydrate (55.68%)
content, crude fiber (6.40%), fat (1.80%), moisture (7.18%), protein (21.46%) and total ash (7.48%). Furthermore,
soluble protein identification of both CSWb and CSAq by SDS-PAGE followed by MALDI-TOF-TOF analysis revealed
the presence of various types of most abundant proteins such as P-type II A ATPase, TE1b [Blumeriagraminis f.
sp. hordei], Chitin synthase Chs [Penicilliummarneffei ATCC 18224], Serine/threonine-protein kinase CLA4,
DEHA2C06820p [Debaryomyceshansenii CBS767], YALI0E29887p [Yarrowialipolytica] etc. In conclusion, the
present study provides a comprehensive qualitative phytochemical analysis, proximate composition and proteome
study on Indian isolate of C. sinensis which could endorse its use as a functional food.
... Purported effects of the fungus suggested a wide range of biological functions such as use as an aphrodisiac [11], analgesic [12], and immune modulator [13] and free radical scavenger [14]. Human clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of Cordyceps sinensis fermented mycelia in combating decreased libido and virility [15,16]. In a clinical study of elderly patients with chronic fatigue, results indicated that most of the subjects treated with Cordyceps sinensis pure mycelium reported a significant clinical improvement in the areas of fatigue, cold intolerance, dizziness, frequent nocturia, tinnitus, hyposexuality, and amnesia, while no improvement was reported in the placebo group [17][18][19]. ...
Cordyceps sinensis, an edible mushroom growing in Himalayan regions, is widely recognized in traditional system of medicine. In the present study, we report the efficacy of Cordyceps sinensis in facilitating tolerance to hypoxia using A549 cell line as a model system. Treatment with aqueous extract of Cordyceps sinensis appreciably attenuated hypoxia induced ROS generation, oxidation of lipids and proteins and maintained antioxidant status similar to that of controls via induction of antioxidant gene HO1 (heme oxygenase-1), MT (metallothionein) and Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2). In contrast, lower level of NF κ B (nuclear factor kappaB) and tumor necrosis factor- α observed which might be due to higher levels of HO1, MT and transforming growth factor- β . Further, increase in HIF1 (hypoxia inducible factor-1) and its regulated genes; erythropoietin, vascular endothelial growth factor, and glucose transporter-1 was observed. Interestingly, Cordyceps sinensis treatment under normoxia did not regulate the expression HIF1, NF κ B and their regulated genes evidencing that Cordyceps sinensis per se did not have an effect on these transcription factors. Overall, Cordyceps sinensis treatment inhibited hypoxia induced oxidative stress by maintaining higher cellular Nrf2, HIF1 and lowering NF κ B levels. These findings provide a basis for possible use of Cordyceps sinensis in tolerating hypoxia.
summary: Cordyceps sinensis is a potentially ergogenic herb that gained popularity after the Chinese women's team credited it for their world-record performances at the 1993 World Track and Field Championships. Since then, a few peer-reviewed investigations have been published, but results of these investigations have been equivocal, with two human studies claiming an ergogenic effect and three human studies failing to find an effect. At this time, it is premature to conclude that Cordyceps sinensis does or does not possess ergogenic properties.
(C) 2006 National Strength and Conditioning Association
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