A fermentation product of Cordyceps sinensis increases whole-body insulin sensitivity in rats.
OBJECTIVE
CordyMax trade mark Cs-4 (Cs-4) is a standardized mycelial fermentation product of Cordyceps sinensis, a fungus that has been used for various pharmacologic, metabolic, and ergogenic purposes. The goal of this investigation was to determine the effects of oral Cs-4 administration on whole-body insulin sensitivity, skeletal muscle glucose transport, and endurance performance.


METHODS
We studied different indices of carbohydrate metabolism in rats that received Cs-4 orally at a dose of 2 g/kg of body weight daily for 30 days.


RESULTS
C-peptide response observed during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after 10 days of treatment was significantly decreased in the Cs-4-treated group (Cs-4, 52,802 +/- 4,124 vs. control, 70,696 +/- 6309 pM x 120 min; p < 0.05). The integrated insulin area under the curve (53.3 +/- 4.9 ng/mL x 120 minutes) and the glucose-insulin index (6.6 +/- 0.6 units) obtained from the OGTT were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in the Cs-4-treated group compared to their vehicle-treated counterparts (82.1 +/- 8.1 ng/mL x 120 minutes; 9.9 +/- 0.7 units) after 20 days of treatment. Neither integrated glucose area under the curve observed during either OGTT, basal- or insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose transport nor skeletal muscle GLUT-4 concentrations were affected by Cs-4 treatment. In addition, swim time to exhaustion did not differ between groups in this animal model.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that CordyMax Cs-4 may have potential beneficial effects by maintaining whole-body glucose disposal with a less pronounced increase in insulin secretion after a carbohydrate challenge, however, its effects on endurance performance remain questionable.
Balon
Thomas W
TW
Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gonda Research Center, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA. tomwbalon@hotmail.com
Jasman
Arnie P
AP
Zhu
Jia-Shi
JS
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; C439563:CordyMax Cs-4; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin