The potential application of Cordyceps in metabolic‐related disorders

Changes in the global economy resulted in sedentary lifestyle and excessive calorie intake, increasing the incidence of metabolic diseases, which subsequently became a universal public concern. The difficulties of managing chronic diseases did not dampen researchers' enthusiasm for studying new therapeutics or adjuvant treatments. Cordyceps spp. is a kind of traditional Chinese herbal medicine; however, our understanding of this medicine remains at an initial stage. Recently, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated the potential of Cordyceps as a therapeutic agent for the effective treatment of metabolic‐related disorders by exerting a variety of activities, including but not limited to anti‐inflammatory, immunoregulatory, hypoglycemic, renoprotective and cardiovascular‐protective effects. This article reviews the potential efficacy and underlying mechanisms of Cordyceps and its major bioactive ingredients in metabolic syndrome and its associated comorbidities.