Effect of Cordyceps Militaris Supplementation on Sperm Production, Sperm Motility and Hormones in Sprague-Dawley Rats (2008)

2023-02-27

The American Journal of Chinese Medicine,Vol.36,No.5,849-859

Abstract

Cordyceps species have been traditionally used as for the enhancement of sexual function,but its direct evidence is lacking. We investigated the spermatogenic effec of Cordyceps militaris(CM)as supplementation with CM mycelium to 7-week-old male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats.Ninetyrats(30 for each group) were selected to regular diet or diet supplemented withCM mycelium(1% and 5%) for 6 weeks. Epididymal sperm were collected from 6 animals per group at each interval of observation. They were allowed to recover for one week.The quality and quantity of sperm were compared in these rats. The CM supplementation resulted in an increase of serum cordycepin concentration (n =6,each group)that correlated with treatment time and the cordycepin level was significantly higher(p<0.05) in 5% group as compared to 1% group at the 5th and 6th week. Epididymal sperm count was enhanced significantly from the control, at the 5th week and peaked at the 6th week in both groups supplemented with CM (each time point, n =6;p<0.05) and maintained for 2 weeks after stopping the treatment.Increased serum testosterone and estradiol-17(E2) concentrations were found in rats with the CM supplementation (p <0.05), but not other hormones such as follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) or prolactin Importantly,percentages of motile sperm cells were also enhanced significantly (p<0.05) paralleled the serum testosterone pattern from the supplement groups as compared to the control group.Taken together, these results indicate that supplementation with CM improves sperm quality and quantity in rats.
Source: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yuh-Shuen-Chen/publication/23564388_Effect_of_Cordyceps_Militaris_Supplementation_on_Sperm_Production_Sperm_Motility_and_Hormones_in_Sprague-Dawley_Rats/links/004635224a0a6941d6000000/Effect-of-Cordyceps-Militaris-Supplementation-on-Sperm-Production-Sperm-Motility-and-Hormones-in-Sprague-Dawley-Rats.pdf

Protective effect of Cordyceps militaris extract against bisphenol A induced reproductive damage (2016)

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) against reproductive damage induced by bisphenol A (BPA).

Effects of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) glucan in HIV-infected patients (2000)

In a long-term trial, the effects of β-glucan MD component extracted from grifolia grifolia on the health status of HIV-infected patients were studied.

Maitake mushroom extract in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): a phase II study (2015)

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis with dysplastic bone marrow leading to peripheral cytopenia, risk of infection, and progression to acute myelogenous leukemia.

Randomized clinical trial of an ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (2008)

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an extract of Ganoderma lucidum that shows the strongest 5α-reductase inhibitory activity among the extracts of 19 edible and medicinal mushrooms by a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized and dose-ranging study in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).