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Fatigue is the symptom of tiredness caused by physical and/or psychological stresses. For physical weakness, the individuals engaged in vigorous activities or laborious jobs may experience reduced efficiency and capacity for work. For psychological weakness, people with depression or sleep disorders may have the sense of weariness, exhaustion, and lack of motivation.
As fatigue is becoming a serious problem in the modern society affecting human health, work efficiency, and quality of life, some people may not recognize it as a serious problem to seek proper treatment. The stimulants such as coffee, energy drinks, and even caffeine or ephedrine supplements taken by many people can only provide a temporary relief and even create health problems in the long run.
Fatigue affecting human health and quality of life
Effective antifatigue remedies other than pharmacological drugs or therapies are highly needed. Many studies have demonstrated the antifatigue effects of edible and medicinal mushrooms because of their various bioactive constituents such as adenosin, polysaccharides, proteins, vitamins, minerals..
Cordyceps sinensis, a caterpillar entomopathogenic fungus-host larva complex, is a rare medicinal herb found in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. C. sinensis is a representative antifatigue mushroom because it can work in various biological systems.
C.sinensis is a representative antifatigue mushroom
Blood lactic acid, muscle, and liver glycogens are all important indicators judging the degree of fatigue. The accumulation of lactic acid during exercise will inhibit energy metabolism and reduce muscular endurance, resulting in fatigue. Glycogen storage in liver and muscle is an important energy source to supply sufficient fuel for exercise. The hepatic glycogen can be converted into glucose and released into blood for energy supply when blood glucose level is low. The water extracts of Cordyceps sinensis can inhibit the production of lactic acid during exercise and increase liver and muscle glycogen storage.
Sinensis could enhance muscle endurance by promoting the expression of skeletal muscle key metabolic regulators AMPK, PGC-1α, and PPAR-δ.
A well-performed immune system can ensure proper functioning of other body systems and adequate amount of energy supply to each part of body so as to prevent fatigue. The active substances in edible and medicinal mushrooms can improve the immune system by activating immune effector cells including macrophages, natural killer cells, and T cells. C. sinensis could enhance phagocytosis of macrophages, which removed foreign pathogens and triggered specific activities of other immune cells more effectively. C. sinensis has been also proved to enhance the activity of natural killer cells and increase the production of cytokine. Natural killer cells belong to cytotoxic lymphocytes which have their own specific mechanism to identify foreign invaders and remove them. They can kill infected cells or even cancer cells by triggering various cell destroying mechanisms. Cytokines are a category of signaling molecules used for cellular communication. They are released by different immune cells to regulate immune response in infective site.
C.sinensis can also scavenge free radicals generated during oxidative metabolism and stimulate vasodilation. Besides, it is also capable of improving energy state of liver, stimulating body testosterone level, and regulating blood glucose level. All these effects support that C. sinensis can strongly enhance body fatigue resistance.
Adenosine
Adenosine is a purine nucleoside, one of nucleotides of DNA and the molecular component of ATP, ADP, and AMP which have important roles in the biochemical processes like energy transfer and signal transduction. Adenosine has been found in many medicinal mushrooms such as C. sinensis, it can improve blood oxygen supply capacity, promote glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells.
Polysaccharid
Polysaccharides are very important components in edible and medicinal mushrooms. They could mitigate fatigue through the improvement on muscular function, antioxidant effect, blood glucose regulation, immunomodulation, and hormone.
Mannitol and cordycepin
Mannitol and cordycepin in C. sinensis extracts were also found active for the scavenging of free radicals.
AMFAGOLD® CORDY PLUS Cordyceps Extract
All the effects of those bioactive components from C. Sinensis will help to regulate body balance and ensure a well-functioned body system to reduce the occurrence of fatigue.
References:
Ping Geng et al , Antifatigue Functions and Mechanisms of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms, Biomed Res Int. 2017
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5584359/