摘要 : Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordycepssinensis), family Ophiocordycipitaceae1,locally known as ‘yarsha gamboo’, is ahighly valued medicinal fungus, foundgrowing on the insect caterpillar ofHepialus armoricanus (family Hepialidae)... 展开 Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordycepssinensis), family Ophiocordycipitaceae1,locally known as ‘yarsha gamboo’, is ahighly valued medicinal fungus, foundgrowing on the insect caterpillar ofHepialus armoricanus (family Hepialidae)2 in the higher hills of the Himalayas,including Nepal, China, Tibet and India(Figure 1 a–d). Specimens of this fungusare rare, occurring in the far reaches ofthe high, cold and arid hills at an altitudebetween 12,000 and 16,000 ft amsl inKumaon and Garhwal hills, Uttarakhand3.One has to trek about 40–45 kmon the steep slopes up to the glacier base.This fungus has high medicinal value and is used in traditional remedies forvarious physiological disorders4. Being ahormone stimulator, Ophiocordyceps isan important anti-aging medicine. Frequentuse of this fungus may preventsenile disorder. It is found beneficial inthe case of climatic age illness, impotence,emission, neurasthemia, rheumatoid,arthritis, cirrhosis, flabby waist andknee5. Ophiocordyceps has been in traditionaluse for the treatment of variousdiseases like chronic bronchitis, insomnia,hypertension, pneumonia, tuberculosis,pulmonary emphysema, anaemia,night sweat and cough. The cost of naturalspecimens in the national market is more than Rs 3 lakh/kg, whereas it issold at more than Rs 5 lakh/kg in theinternational market. 收起