Cordyceps

 This article is part of my thesis “Fuelwood Consumption and Production in Alpine Bhutan: A case study in Wangchuck Centennial Park, Bumthang, Bhutan). I have also worked on uses of Cordyceps in Pharmaceutical industries long time back, but could not trace out as of now. If people are interested I will try to re-write it and publish it. I have also cited references, in-case if any readers is interested to explore further. I will also try to provide papers to those who are interested to know more about the organism.

What is Cordyceps

Cordyceps sinensis is an Ascomycetes medical fungus with a long and illustrious history. The genus Cordyceps is mostly entomophagous flask fungi belonging to the family Clavicipataceae (Winkler, 2008). Although it is not actually a mushroom in the taxonomic sense, it has been regarded as a medicinal mushroom for centuries. The name Cordyceps comes from the Latin words “cord” and “ceps”, meaning, “club” and “head”, respectively (Holliday et al., 2005). The Latin word accurately describes the appearance of this fungus, whose stroma and fruit body extend from mummified carcasses of insect larvae, usually that of the Himalayan ghost moth belonging to the genus Thitarodes (Hepialidae, Lepidoptera).  A recent DNA analysis of the genus Cordyceps found that C.sinensis was not the same as C.militaris thus the genus has been changed to Ophiocordyceps (Cannon et al., 2009; Boesi  and Cardi, 2009). However, I will refer here as Cordyceps because it continues to be the most common and widespread name. In China, Bhutan and Tibet the literal translation of the name is “summer grass and winter worm” (Holliday et al., 2005).   

Fungal Part of the Cordyceps (This
is what the collectors sees)

Cordyceps is harvested over much of the Himalayan plateau and is a highly prized remedy in traditional oriental medicine.  Over the past decade its financial value has increased many folds, with collectors being paid as high as US $ 12,500.00 kg^-1(Cannon et. al., 2009). The fungus is a coveted medicinal product in traditional Tibetan and Chinese medicine, and is known in the west as “Himalayan Viagra” (Gould, 2007).   Cordyceps appears annually between the months of April and August when it is harvested (Holliday et al., 2005; Gould,  2007; Winkler, 2008;  Cannon et al., 2009) and thrives only at altitudes above 3800 m in the cold, grassy, alpine meadows on the mountainous Himalayan Plateau of Tibet, Nepal, India, Bhutan  and the modern Chinese provinces of  Sichuan, Gansu, Hubei, Zhejiang, Shanxi, Guizhon, Qinghai, and Yunnan (Holliday et al., 2005; Winkler, 2008; Cannon et al., 2009; Boesi and Cardi, 2009).

Cordyceps in Bhutan

            Cordyceps has been a resource in Bhutanese traditional medicine for many years (Cannon et al., 2009). In recent years, Cordyceps has become one of the most expensive mushrooms in the world fetching up to US$ 6126.00 – 10,450.00 kg^-1 at an auction in Dodena, Bhutan in 2007. (Wangchuk, 2008).  The Royal Government of Bhutan legalized Cordyceps harvesting in 2004 (Cannon et al., 2009) and it is now legally harvested extensively throughout alpine areas of the country.  Managing Cordyceps harvesting has proved to be extremely difficult because the high alpine areas are very remote with major collection areas near the border of the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. Many Tibetans illegally cross the border to gather the fungus, and there are not enough forest personnel to monitor collection and enforce regulations (Cannon et al., 2009).  Enforcing regulation also presents a dangerous situation for forest personal. Bhutanese Cordyceps collectors report that hundreds of Tibetans illegally collect in Bhutan and, a RGoB (Royal Government of Bhutan) Forestry monitoring team apprehended 13 Tibetan poachers in 2007(Wangdi, 2008).

Just before removing dirt

          Cordyceps harvesting regulations have changed dramatically over the years.  In 2003 harvesting was allowed only in the Lunana area of Bhutan (Tshitila, 2009), but in 2004, the policy allowed limited collection by yak herders whose herds traditionally grazed in the pastures where the fungus occurs in the country (Cannon et al., 2009; Royal Decree, 17^th June, 2004- RA Online).  Various measures were implemented in an attempt to manage harvesting, including a ban on any collecting except during the one month period of mid-may to mid- June. In 2008 the policy of allowing one person per household (yak herders as well as those households located within the Cordyceps growing gewog) to harvest the fungus was modified to allow all members of a household permission to collect (Gould, 2007; Wangchuk, 2008; Cannon  et.al., 2009). In 2009 the rules were revised again permitting up to 3 people per household the collection rights.

            Very little is known about the biology of Cordyceps, including its abundance, distribution, and effects of harvesting, which raises questions about the sustainability of harvesting.  In addition to the direct impacts associated with harvesting Cordyceps, the large number of collectors hiking, camping, cooking, and disposing of human and other wastes in sensitive, high alpine environments undoubtedly have environmental effects.  However, none of the potential environmental effects associated with Cordyceps harvesting have been investigated.

(Cleaned Cordyceps picture can be seen in "Floral and Faunal Gallery) 

References:

Boesi, A. and F. Cardi (2009). Cordyceps sinensis Medicinal fungus: Traditional Use among Tibetan people, Harvesting Techniques, and Modern uses. Herbalgram ; 83: 52-63.

Cannon, .P.F., N.L. Hywel-Jones, N. Maczey, L. Norbu, T. Samdrup and P. Lhendup (2009). Steps towards sustainable harvest of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Bhutan. Biodiversity Conservation; 18: 2263-2281

Gould, R. (2007). Himalayan Viagra, Himalayan Gold? Cordyceps sinensis brings new forces to the Bhutanese Himalaya. Tropical Resource Bulletin. Vol. 26.

Holliday, J., C. M.,  and S.P. Wasser (2005). Cordyceps. Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements.

Tshitila (2009). The Current Scientific Knowledge on Cordyceps sinensis and Research Needs- The Bhutan Case. Presented during the Regional Conference on Cordyceps Management and Marketing; 20-24 April, 2009, Bumthang, Bhutan.

Wangchuk, D. (2008).  Cordyceps sinensis: is domestication possible?. Kuensel; Bhutan’s National Newspaper 2008.

Wangdi, S. (2008). Report of the Forestry Monitoring Team for Cordyceps collection. Field Report Submitted to the Bumthang Forestry Division.

Winkler, D. (2008). Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis) and the Fungal commodification of Tibet’s rural economy. Economic Botany; 62(3): 291-305