The immune-enhancing effects of C. sinensis have
been alluded to in the above discussions. It is of
interest to note that the fungus that produces the immunosuppressive
drug cyclosporin, Tolypocladium
infl atum, was discovered in 1996 to be the asexual
stage of yet another Cordyceps species, C. subsessilus.
15 Thus, the same genus of fungus that was used
for centuries to provide immune stimulation was
now known to provide an immune suppressant that
is valuable in organ transplantation surgery.
Other such experiments demonstrating both inhibiting
as well as potentiating effects of Cordyceps
are controversial, and the effects observed are possibly
the result of differing experimental conditions
and variables. However, with such evidence of a
possibly bi-directional immune-modulating effect,
further research is in order.
Although the drug cyclosporin has enabled
some advances in medicine by facilitating the
transplant of organs, there has been a drawback to
its use. The high toxicity of cyclosporin has caused
many patients to suffer from serious kidney damage
related to the use of the drug. In 1995, a study was
undertaken in China in which 69 kidney transplant
patients were given either cyclosporin alone or in
conjunction with C. sinensis, at 3 grams per day.
After 15 days it was clearly evident that the group
receiving C. sinensis in addition to cyclosporin had
a much lower incidence of kidney damage than the
group receiving only cyclosporin, as measured by
the levels of urinary NAG, serum creatinine, and
blood urea nitrate.39
The immune-enhancing effects of C. sinensis havebeen alluded to in the above discussions. It is ofinterest to note that the fungus that produces the immunosuppressivedrug cyclosporin, Tolypocladiuminfl atum, was discovered in 1996 to be the asexualstage of yet another Cordyceps species, C. subsessilus.15 Thus, the same genus of fungus that was usedfor centuries to provide immune stimulation wasnow known to provide an immune suppressant thatis valuable in organ transplantation surgery.Other such experiments demonstrating both inhibitingas well as potentiating effects of Cordycepsare controversial, and the effects observed are possiblythe result of differing experimental conditionsand variables. However, with such evidence of apossibly bi-directional immune-modulating effect,further research is in order.Although the drug cyclosporin has enabledsome advances in medicine by facilitating thetransplant of organs, there has been a drawback toits use. The high toxicity of cyclosporin has causedmany patients to suffer from serious kidney damagerelated to the use of the drug. In 1995, a study wasundertaken in China in which 69 kidney transplantpatients were given either cyclosporin alone or inconjunction with C. sinensis, at 3 grams per day.After 15 days it was clearly evident that the groupreceiving C. sinensis in addition to cyclosporin hada much lower incidence of kidney damage than thegroup receiving only cyclosporin, as measured bythe levels of urinary NAG, serum creatinine, andblood urea nitrate.39
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