One of the major components of the mushroom Cordyceps Militaris is cordycepin, its chemical formula being 3′-Deoxyadenosine. This bioactive component has been recognized to have a number of biological effects, such as preventing growth of tumours, activities for vasorelaxation and controlling immune responses. In order to understand its fat-lowering effects, hyperlipidemic rats and hamsters were administered high-lipid diet and another diet with cordycepin from Cordyceps Militaris , for a period of four weeks. The quantities of lipids in rats and hamsters were measured with the help of enzymes, both before giving cordycepin (12.5, 25 and 50 mg x kg(-1)).

In the results, it was measured that levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), serum, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) increased markedly in the two animal populations on the high fat diet. On the other hand, cordycepin brought down levels of TG, LDL-C, serum TC, LDL- C/HDL-C and VLDL-C, as well as TC/HDL-C ratios. As a corollary, an increase in hepatic lipase (HL) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity due to cordycepin was understood as responsible for lipid profile regulation.

[1] Other clinical studies that involved 273 patients (across 9 hospitals) having high levels of cholesterol showed that Cordyceps Militaris is responsible for bringing down total cholesterol by 10–21% and triglycerides by 9–26%. Additionally, it also helped increase HDL (good’ cholesterol) by 27–30%.