2.       Composition of Chinese Caterpillar Fungus

     Chinese caterpillar fungus contains polysaccharide of Chinese caterpillar fungus, cordycepin, cordycepic acid, D-mannitol, adenosine, urdine and SOD (superoxide dismutase), with special curative effect on each system for human body. Moreover, Chinese caterpillar fungus also contains rich protein, various amino acids, vitamin and many kinds of microelements necessary to humans, improving human constitution effectively.

      Over 40 kinds of nutrient contents necessary to humans: four kinds of organic acids: palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid, with the function of reducing blood fat while making bidirectional adjustment of blood pressure.

 Five types of vitamins: VB1, VB2, VB12, VE,VK, supplementing vitamins necessary to human body.

 Six kinds of peptide compounds: effectively enforcing immunocompetence for humans.

 Eight kinds of microelements: Na, K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Se, Mn, Cu, which are substantial foundation for metabolism.

 Eighteen types of amino acids: substantial foundation for strengthening  immunity.

3. How to Distinguish Genuine and False Chinese Caterpillar Fungus？

    Due to deficiency of genuine wild Chinese caterpillar fungus resources, expensive price and serious shortage of supply, other kinds of Chinese caterpillar fungus in the market are also seen with high prices in the name of genuine Chinese caterpillar fungus. Even more, some that aren’t Chinese caterpillar fungus at all are even sold in the name of Chinese caterpillar fungus, which damages consumers’ interests seriously. Therefore, we have consulted with relevant experts. Now, we would like to offer some tips for distinguishing genuine and false Chinese caterpillar fungus.

    The genuine and false Chinese caterpillar fungus can be distinguished from the following points:

    Generally, the genuine Chinese caterpillar fungus has the following characteristics:

1)     Observing the Chinese caterpillar body. It should be yellow or yellow-brown in appearance, easy to be broken off, white inside with retracting tail. A black star point can be seen in the center of cross section, which is the digestive gland intestine of the former polypide. The transverse and straight stretching texture and papilla-shaped feet at abdomen of the genuine Chinese caterpillar body is very regular, symmetric and clear. No defects can be found in every part of the body. Particularly, the eye covered by the grass root at the overlapping part between head of Chinese caterpillar and summer grass, the sorrel mouth and glossary cutinic piece are very distinct. The false Chinese caterpillar fungus does not have these characteristics. Most of them are made through pressing and rubbing the mixture of fine soil, fine wood ash and bonding agent in a small mould of Chinese caterpillar fungus. Although its shape is similar with that of genuine Chinese caterpillar fungus, the body texture of false Chinese caterpillar fungus is not clear; defects can be found on the body; and you can feel it heavier by putting it on your palm. The surface of genuine Chinese caterpillar fungus is covered with fat liquoring argitan, and the false Chinese caterpillar does not.

Observe its stroma (grass part). Its color is likely black, with white cross section and fiber shape in longitudinal direction. The grass part is connected with the Chinese caterpillar head. You can’ t draw them apart easily.

2)     The Chinese caterpillar body is like a silkworm, with length of 3~5cm and diameter of 0.3~0.8cm. Its surface is deep yellow to yellow brown, with texture of 20~30 circles. The circular texture near the head is comparatively finer. Its head is reddish brown, with 8 pairs of feet. The four pairs in the middle are comparatively distinct (with same spaces).

3)     The Chinese caterpillar fungus is crisp, easy to be broken off with comparatively   flat cross-section in light yellow white color. Its stroma is long and slim in a cylinder shape, growing alone, with length of 4~7cm and diameter of approx. 0.3cm. Its surface is chocolate brown to yellow brown, with fine longitudinal wrinkles. The upper part is slightly intumescent. The stroma is pliable with whitish cross-section. The surface of the top of genuine Chinese caterpillar fungus stroma is in lividity; while breaking it off, the cross-section is hollow. These characteristics are not available from false Chinese caterpillar fungus .

4)     Smelling. Genuine Chinese caterpillar fungus is very fishy in odor, with unique fragrance of Chinese caterpillar fungus. It tastes slightly bitter. Those with thick stem, black stroma, silkworm-like caterpillar body, bright yellow appearance, jade white inside, fleshy, stout and strong body shape are choice ones.

5)     Tasting. The flavor of genuine Chinese caterpillar fungus is light, and slightly fresh, with flexibility and tenacity. If your chew a genuine one in your mouth, like chewing green soy bean, the longer you chew it, the more fragrant, full of sweet aroma of chicken in your mouth. If you chew a false one in your mouth, you will feel it hard to chew. After the false one is thoroughly wet with saliva, you will feel full of soil flavor in your mouth without any aroma of meat.

 Caterpillar Fungus Powder under Techology                   Natural Caterpillar Fungus                               Caterpillar Fungus Capsule Workshop   

4. Differences between Chinese Caterpillar Fungus (Hirsutella Hepiali) and Other Fungi

    On October 29, 2005, China Fungus Institute convened a “Symposium over Chinese caterpillar Fungus and Its Anamorph” in Beijing. Nine experts in the field of Chinese caterpillar fungus separation and fungi classification attended this symposium. They reached agreement on the following opinions after discussion and signed accordingly:

    Latin scientific name of Chinese caterpillar fungus is Cordycepssinensis;

    Chinese caterpillar fungus anamorph is Chinese hepiali, with its Latin scientific name of HirsrtellasinensisLiu, Guo, YuetZeng (1989);

    The homogeneous synonym of Chinese hepiali is Hirsutella Hepiali (1985). Chinese Paecilomyces sinensis Chen, 1984, Paecilomyces Hepiali Chen et Dai, 1989, Chrysosporium sinensis Liang sp. nov., Spicaria sp., Tolypocladium Sinense, Militaris, cordyceps gunnii, Cordyceps ophioglossoides (Ehrenb.) Link and HirsutellaSinense are another kind of fungi different from Chinese caterpillar fungus. And their teleomorph is not clear or definite till now. (Jinshuibao Capsule is a kind of industrialized product made of Paecilomyces hepiali Chen et Dai Cs-4 strain. It is sold to Chinese market and taken for product of Chinese caterpillar fungus. )

    Having experienced 26 years of hard efforts for Chinese caterpillar fungus industrialization, the Chinese caterpillar fungus asexual-stage industrialization has finally been completed.

    The series of Fu’ai Chinese caterpillar fungus powder capsule products has for real realized the Chinese caterpillar fungus asexual-stage industrialization.

For example:

5. Denomination of “Chinese Caterpillar Fungus”

Approved by Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China [Document Wei Fa Jian Fa (2001) No.84], “Paecilomyces hepialid Chen et Shen” was listed in the name list of “Fungi for Healthcare Food”. It was appraised by Institute of Microbiology, China Academy of Sciences that “Hirsutella Hepialid Chen et Shen” and “Hirsutella sinensis x.J.Liu, Y.L.Guo, et al” are of the same category. This category of fungi is the only one that has been generally recognized by domestic academic circle and its true anamorph of Chinese caterpillar fungus have passed validation of “biological reduction method” and “DNA molecule identification”.

It is an absolute tendency of social development that Industrialized products are superior to natural ones. “Hirsutella Hepialid Chen et Shen”hypha is the new generation product of Chinese caterpillar fungus. It is a significant breakthrough of the development and production of Chinese artificial production and substitution of rare traditional Chinese medicinal materials, which is of international advanced level.

6. Function of Chinese Caterpillar Fungus Recorded in Traditional Chinese Medicinal Books

   It was recorded in the traditional Chinese medicinal books: Chinese caterpillar fungus has the function of moistening the lung, invigorating the kidney, enriching essence and vital energy, restoring from weakness and impairment. Modern pharmacological research and clinical research have confirmed that: Chinese caterpillar fungus is a kind of effective immunomodulator, especially with function of immunoregulation in case of body dysimmunity. It achieves this function through regulating the balance between cytokines in human body and that between hormones. The scope of its prevention and treatment is involved in many systems of human body: immunity system, nervous system, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, urinary system, genital system and digestive system, also involved in a number of diseases such as autoimmune disease, geriatric diseases, kidney function failure, cardiovascular diseases, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, hepatitis, insomnia, comprehensive climacteric symptoms, etc, and is conducive to the treatment and rehabilitation of phymatosis patient and organ transplant patient. Chinese caterpillar fungus is expected to be used for preventing and treating fiberosis of tissue and organs. These are the functions of Chinese caterpillar fungus in restoring from weakness and impairment, and treating different diseases together as the description made by ancient Chinese medical saint. The abovementioned is excerpted from the book “Research on Chinese Chinese caterpillar Fungus” of Chinese version library [CIP data verification code (2005) No.041688] written by Ke Chuankui, published by China Science and Technology Press in May 2005.

   As recorded in “A Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica”: Chinese caterpillar fungus is warm in nature, replenishing essence and marrow, protecting the lung energy. One can steep pills in spirit before eat them to cure pain in the waist and knees and tonify the kidney. According to “Materia Medica in Tibet”: Chinese caterpillar fungus has the function of moistening the lung and tonifying the kidney. The “Illustrated Handbook” in 780A.D. had such record: Chinese caterpillar fungus can dispel heat from the lung, cure the lung-disease and allergic diseases due to climate sickness. As indicated in “Notes on Treasure of Golden Juice and Nectar”: Chinese caterpillar fungus can nourish the kidney yin and lung, cure lung disease and allergic diseases due to climate sickness. “Essential of Materia Medica” (the Qing Dynasty·1694) showed: Chinese caterpillar fungus can protect the lung energy and tonify the kidney, arrest hemorrhage, reduce phlegm and persistent cough. “New Compilation of Materia Medica” (the Qing Dynasty·1757): Chinese caterpillar fungus is sweet, mild and protect the lung energy, nourish the kidney and strengthen the essence, with marked effect in treating lung deficiency, persistent cough, blood in phlegm, spontaneous perspiration, night sweat, deficiency of the kidney, impotence, spermatorrhea and pains in waist and knees. “Tibetan Treasure of nectar” has such remarks about Chinese caterpillar fungus, as in the translated version of Japanese doctor Kinjyou Tenko: Chinese caterpillar fungus can restore the energy one lost, regulate the overall somatic function, eliminate diseases due to excessive use of physical strength, avoid illness from digestive organs. It works pretty well against any diseases with no side effect, and a treasure with multifunctions.

7. Chinese Caterpillar Fungus’s Functions Found in Modern Tmes

Modern research on pharmacological functions of Chinese caterpillar fungus can be summarized as follows:

1) Functions for immune system and hemopoietic system

The Chinese caterpillar fungus element and Chinese caterpillar fungus polysaccharide contained in Chinese caterpillar fungus have the functions of promotion and bi-directional regulation for immune system, mainly in activating immunocytes and enhancing the phagocytic function of immunocytes. As we know, there are numerical bacteria and viruses in the air and on the things we touch daily, but we won’t often get ill because of that. It’s because that numerical immunocytes in our bodies eat up the pathogenic bacteria and virus intruded into our bodies. However, the our immunocytes aren’t always so effective, sometimes they may feel “tired”, for example, when we are ill, and when we feel tired after having worked for a whole day. Some elders and special groups such as someone that often takes drugs, someone that often overworks, someone that often enjoys night life, AIDS patients and drug addict community. Their immunologic functions are much lower than normal level. Under these circumstances, the immunocytes aren’t active enough, and it’s difficult for them to eliminate the pathogenic bacteria and virus intruded. And then, humans are easy to get ill. Chinese caterpillar fungus can help our immunocytes to recover activity and kill all the pathogenic bacteria and viruses intruded in our body.

Main functions of Chinese caterpillar fungus for hemopoietic system of human body: For the Chinese caterpillar fungus polysaccharide can improve hematopoiesis of bone marrow cells, accelerating generation of red blood corpuscles, and coping with leukemia and reduction of granulocytes, which play a positive role for leukemia patients or the patients receiving chemotherapy.

2) Function for lung and respiratory system

Chinese caterpillar fungus acid may protect the lung, nourish the kidney, arrest bleeding, disperse phlegm, distinctly improve the mobility of bronchus cilium, regulate smooth muscle of bronchus, and simultaneously, Chinese caterpillar fungus element has strong functions of inhibiting and destroying tubercule bacillus and other pathogenic bacteria which may cause pulmonary infection. Furthermore, both Chinese caterpillar fungus acid and Chinese caterpillar fungus polysaccharide can rehabilitate the injured pneumonocytes. Therefore, Chinese caterpillar fungus has excellent curative effect for various pneumonic diseases and bronchial asthma, especially for elder’s chronic bronchitis and asthma and those caused by smoking. The symptom of lungweakness caused by over-working and over pressure increases gradually. Due to alteration of the people’s living custom, and gradual increasing of the population who smokes, drinks, or stays up, the pulmonary function is declined, and various diseases such as cough, bronchitis and asthma increase, especially businessmen and brainworker, who should pay more attention to protecting their lungs.

3) Functions for cardiac and cerebral system

As we know, the person who seldom has physical exercises is easy to be injured and feel tired. Generally, there are two causes: first, the capillary of the person who seldom exercises seldom expands, the blood stream is slow, nutritive substance and metabolite deposits. All these cause blocking and microcirculatory disturbance. Secondly, the blood-supply ability of the heart of the person who seldom exercises is comparatively weak. Once having exercises, blood supply for the brain is deficient, and then the person will feel tired. Chinese caterpillar fungus can decompose the sediments in the capillaries effectively, dredge the blood vessel, and increase blood output without increasing cardiac muscle’s oxygen consumption. Therefore, Chinese caterpillar fungus can relieve these symptoms effectively.

Chinese caterpillar fungus has a wide function over hear and brain system, largely because cordycepic acid can reduce the content of cholesterol and triglyceride inside blood, prevent formation of thrombus. Meanwhile, adenosine can lower oxygen consumption of cardiac muscle, improve ischemia of cardiac muscle, regulate microcirculation of heart, brain and kidney so that partial blood stream can be dredged. Besides, Chinese caterpillar fungus also helps relieve heart rate disorder caused by drugs.

4) Functions for liver

It is known that the liver is an organ of human body for digestion and detoxication. Only after decomposition and detoxication by the liver, shall the food we eat every day turn into nutritive substances that our body can make use of. The harm of drugs or other toxic substances entering our body are prevented by liver detoxication. Since the liver works unceasingly, it’s easy to feel tired, especially when the person caught hepatic diseases. If the person didn’t have a good rest, it’s easy to give rise to some pertinacious diseases, which may affect our regular work and life. Chinese caterpillar fungus can effectively protect our livers from time to time.

Research shows that, both Chinese caterpillar fungus element and Chinese caterpillar polysaccharide can enhance the phagocytic function of hepatocytes. Chinese caterpillar fungus acid, SOD, and vitamin-E can resist hepatic tissue fibrosis and lipid overoxidation. The Chinese caterpillar fugus’ function for enhancing immunity reinforces detoxication of the liver, therefore, the hepatocytes can be protected effectively. Because the hepatitis can be spread through diets and body fluid contact, it becomes more important to pay attention to protecting the liver and preventing hepatic diseases all the time in this era of frequent circulation.

5) Functions for kidney and endocrine system

There are a lot of discussions concerning the function of Chinese caterpillar fungus for invigorating the kidney and strengthening yang with respect to traditional Chinese medicine. Researches show that the function has a bearing on the similar androgenic hormone function of Chinese caterpillar fungus. Particularly, adenosine contained in Chinese caterpillar fungus can improve microcirculation and partial blood flow of the kidney as well as regulate adrenaline and endocrine relating to sexual function. Therefore, Chinese caterpillar fungus has excellent curative effect on elder’s sexual disorder and those caused by endocrine atrophy and disorder as well as distinct curative effect on various acute and chronic kidney failure.

Additionally, for various types of “kidney deficiency” are mostly caused by atrophy of endocrine function, and clinically, there are many cases that evidencing the effectiveness of Chinese caterpillar fungus in treating kidney deficiency, Chinese caterpillar fungus is a good drug for treating kidney efficiency as well.

6) Functions against tumor

Chinese caterpillar may suppress fission of cancer cell, stunt diffusion of cancer cell, and significantly improve phagocytic ability of T cells and macrophage cells in human body. Caterpillar polysaccharide can promote lymph transformation and enhance anticancer ability of the human body itself. Chinese caterpillar fungus also has excellent functions for tranquilizing and easing pain, and it can alleviate pain while cancer attacks. For there isn’t a specific remedy for treating cancer presently, and most of therapeutic drugs not only are sold at expensive prices, but also have strong side effects. In contrast, Chinese caterpillar fungus not only has no side effects, but it can accelerate recovery of human body and improve autoimmunity function. Therefore, it’s a proper choice to use Chinese caterpillar fungus for preventing tumor and assisting tumor treatment.

9. Manufacturing Process for Chinese Caterpillar Fungus Powder Capsules

Fu’ai’s Chinese caterpillar fungus powder capsules adopt a rare raw material of Cordyceps sinensis（Berk.）Sacc., which is a hi-tech bio product made through epiphyte fermenting of Chinese caterpillar fungus. Its industrialized production manufacturing is conducted as per GMP standard in clean shops of grade 100,000 by adopting the technologies of “artificial classification of caterpillar fungus”, “artificial culturing and fecundation of various kinds of caterpillar funguses” and “submerged fermenting at low temperature for caterpillar fungus hypha”, with full fermenting process and technical parameters automatically controlled by computer. Fermenting temperature is controlled below 18℃ with four stages of continuous fermenting and a total of 40-day of fermenting cycle, all of which have met the growth demand for such microtherm fungus as caterpillar fungus. Testing of Beijing Physiochemical Analysis & Testing Center, China Research Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine shows that the main ingredients and contents of this hypha are almost the same with those of caterpillar fungus, with stable ingredients and contents. It can be a substitute for caterpillar fungus and has been listed among the funguses to be used for healthcare foods. This hypha can be used as raw material for healthcare products or drugs while can be directly edible without any processing.

 Hirsutella hepiali Chen et Shen has been confirmed as the designation for anamorph of caterpillar fungus. Hirsutella hepiali Chen et Shen is different from other fungus in nature.

10. Similarities and Differences between Fu’ai’s Caterpillar Fungus Powder Capsule and Natural Caterpillar Fungus

1) Differences

(1) Different production methods and cycles. Natural caterpillar fungus grows in the plain soil in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau below snow line, containing about 1% of miscellaneous funguses and heavy metal such as arsenic, etc, with 3~6 years of vegetative cycle starting from incubation of parasitic ovum. Fu’ai’s caterpillar fungus is industrialized product fostered with 100% pure species, without arsenic or other heavy metal.

(2) Different appearance and quality standard. Natural caterpillar fungus is a kind of medicinal materials with “caterpillar shape and grass shape”, and its quality standard is recorded in Chinese pharmacopoeia; Fu’ai’s caterpillar fungus is in the shape of capsule, containing yellow brown powder, with internal control standard formulated by the enterprise.

(3) Different ways for eating. Natural caterpillar fungus is edible after having been stewed or decocted. Fu’ai’s caterpillar fungus can be swallowed directly in lukewarm water or taken after mixing it in lukewarm water; it can also be taken after having been stewed or decocted.

(4) Different property rights protection. Natural caterpillar fungus is a kind of traditional medicinal materials without any property rights or brand protection.

There are fake ones in the market, difficult to distinguish. Fu’ai’s caterpillar fungus has patent and brand protection.

(5) Different environmental influences. Due to over picking and digging of natural caterpillar fungus, ecology in the plain was destroyed. Fu’ai’s caterpillar fungus powder capsule is produced under industrialization, without any pollution to the environment. It’s a kind of environmental-friendly product.

2) Similarities

(1) Same gene mapping.

(2) DNA sequence similarity is 97.8%.

(3) Same fungus category.

(4) Growing at low temperature (below 18℃).

(5) Similar ingredients.

(6) Similar odor (fishy).

(7) Same function (nourishing lung and kidney, enriching essence and vital energy, recovering from weakness and impairment).

(8) Same biological activity (improving activity of immunocytes).

(9) Suitable for same community to take.

3) Content comparison:

Each kilogram of caterpillar fungus contain approximately 2,500~3,600 pieces, i.e. each piece of caterpillar fungus weighs 0.3~0.4g. So, a pill of hypha capsule weighing 0.4g with100% of hypha content is equivalent to a piece of caterpillar fungus. This is based on the assumption that the weight of one gram of hypha capsule is equivalent to that of one gram of natural caterpillar fungus. But actually, all the active constituents contained in hypha are basically identical with that of caterpillar fungus. We therefore believe that the effect of taking a pill of capsule is equivalent to that of taking a piece of caterpillar fungus.

11. FAQ about Caterpillar Fungus

1) Why caterpillar fungus is reputed as China’s national treasure?

(1) There are hundreds of kinds of caterpillar funguses in the world, of which, only one kind is called “Chinese caterpillar fungus (Cordyceps sinensis)”, which grows at high and cold mountainous area above 3,000~6,000m in China’s Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

(2) There are hundreds of kinds of caterpillar funguses, of which, only Chinese caterpillar fungus is inscrolled in the pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China.

(3) Chinese caterpillar fungus is a kind of special local product of China, which can be found in China only. As one of the three treasures of traditional Chinese medicine, it is handed down for thousand of years, possessing marvelous officinal value.

2) “Chinese caterpillar fungus” ≠ “caterpillar fungus”

“Chinese caterpillar fungus” is a kind of fungus among cordyceps. Caterpillar fungus is a collective term of hundreds of kinds of caterpillar fungus or fungus species belonging to cordyceps, including traditional Chinese medicine - Chinese caterpillar fungus. If we can say that there are 497 kinds of cordyceps in the world, then only one kind is Chinese caterpillar fungus, none of the other 496 kinds of caterpillar funguses are Chinese caterpillar fungus. They can merely be called  X X caterpillar fungus of cordyceps (such as Militaris, Cordyceps hawkesii Gray, etc). They not only have differences in microorganism species, parasitic insect and ecological environment, but have essential difference in functions as well. Therefore, caterpillar fungus isn’t equal to Chinese caterpillar fungus, and Chinese caterpillar fungus is merely one kind of cordyceps.

3) How to distinguish powder products of Chinese caterpillar fungus?

In recent years, along with enhancement of healthcare awareness and increase of people’s demand, a large number of “caterpillar fungus” and “fungus products separated from Chinese caterpillar fungus” sprang up in both domestic and overseas markets. The good and the bad are intermingled, bringing a heavy impact on genuine Chinese caterpillar fungus products. Experts pointed out that, the following two critical points should be mastered for distinguishing true and false Chinese caterpillar fungus products:

A.     The key to distinguish true and false Chinese caterpillar fungus products is the kind of fungus.

B.     The key to distinguish the quality of Chinese caterpillar fungus products is the production process.