A Systematic Review of the Biological Effects of Cordycepin

Abstract

We conducted a systematic review of the literature on the effects of cordycepin on cell survival and proliferation, inflammation, signal transduction and animal models. A total of 1204 publications on cordycepin were found by the cut-off date of 1 February 2021. After application of the exclusion criteria, 791 papers remained. These were read and data on the chosen subjects were extracted. We found 192 papers on the effects of cordycepin on cell survival and proliferation and calculated a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 135 µM. Cordycepin consistently repressed cell migration (26 papers) and cellular inflammation (53 papers). Evaluation of 76 papers on signal transduction indicated consistently reduced PI3K/mTOR/AKT and ERK signalling and activation of AMPK. In contrast, the effects of cordycepin on the p38 and Jun kinases were variable, as were the effects on cell cycle arrest (53 papers), suggesting these are cell-specific responses. The examination of 150 animal studies indicated that purified cordycepin has many potential therapeutic effects, including the reduction of tumour growth (37 papers), repression of pain and inflammation (9 papers), protecting brain function (11 papers), improvement of respiratory and cardiac conditions (8 and 19 papers) and amelioration of metabolic disorders (8 papers). Nearly all these data are consistent with cordycepin mediating its therapeutic effects through activating AMPK, inhibiting PI3K/mTOR/AKT and repressing the inflammatory response. We conclude that cordycepin has excellent potential as a lead for drug development, especially for age-related diseases. In addition, we discuss the remaining issues around the mechanism of action, toxicity and biodistribution of cordycepin.

Cordycepin mitigates spermatogenic and redox related expression in H 2 O 2 -exposed Leydig cells and regulates testicular oxidative apoptotic signalling in aged rats

“… 2018 ; Radhi et al. 2021 ). Recent reports indicated that cordycepin possessed anti-inflammatory, antitumor, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects (Nallathamby et al.…”

Targeting Oxidative Stress in Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Prospects of the Natural Products Approach

“…Cordycepin is the first nucleoside antibiotic isolated from Cordyceps [ 143 ]. Cunningham et al, German scientists, discovered the core component of Cordyceps militaris, “cordycepin”, in 1951, which was discovered to have antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, and immunomodulatory properties [ 144 ].…”

Cordycepin Inhibits Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion by Regulating EMT-TFs SLUG, TWIST1, SNAIL1, and ZEB1

“…Cordyceps mushrooms have long been used as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Among the 400 species of this genus, C. sinensis and C. militaris were reported as the most widely used medicinal products against multiple life-threatening diseases, including cancer ( 1 – 3 ). More attention has been drawn to the scientists in basic research in the past few decades, and the major functional anticancer component in both C. sinensis and C. militaris is known as ‘Cordycepin’ (CD) (3′-deoxyadenosine), which is a derivative of the adenosine nucleotide differing from adenosine due to the absence of oxygen at the 3′-position of its ribose moiety ( 4 , 5 ).…”