Cordyceps has traditionally been used to strengthen the kidneys. In one study of 51 patients with chronic renal failure, 3-5g/day Ophiocordyceps sinensis significantly improved kidney function and in another 4.5g/day speeded recovery from gentamycin-induced kidney damage with 89% of those taking O. sinensis having recovered normal kidney function after 6 days compared to 45% of a control group1.
Antroquinonol, a ubiquinone derivative from the mycelium of Taiwanofungus camphoratus, syn.: Antrodia camphorata has been shown to reduce protein and blood in the urine, renal dysfunction and changes in the kidney glomerular basement membrane (a histological hallmark of SLE) at a dose of 400mg/kg in a mouse model of SLE, suggesting ability to protect the kidney from autoimmune disease2,3.
CLINICAL NOTE
O. sinensis mycelial biomass (2-3g/day).
REFERENCES
1. Medicinal value of the caterpillar fungi species of the genus Cordyceps. Holliday J, Cleaver M. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2008;10(3):219–234.
2. An extract of Antrodia camphorata mycelia attenuates the progression of nephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus-prone NZB/W F1 mice. Chang JM, Lee YR, Hung LM, Liu SY, Kuo MT, Wen WC, Chen P. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:465894.
3. Review of biological and pharmacological activities of the endemic Taiwanese bitter medicinal mushroom, Antrodia camphorata (M. Zang et C. H. Su) Sh. H. Wu et al. (higher Basidiomycetes). Yue PY, Wong YY, Chan TY, Law CK, Tsoi YK, Leung KS. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2012;14(3):241–56.