PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS OF CORDYCEPS SINENSIS ZACC.

Some pharmacological actions of the Chinese drug Tung-Chung-Hsia-Tsao (C. sinensis, Zacc.) are reported. The infusion of C. sinensis dilates the isolated guinea pig's bronchi conspicuously. This corresponds with old Chinese medical literatures. In addition to this, the infusion inhibits the isolated small intestines, uteri, and heart of the rabbit, guinea pig and/or the frog. No sign of direct action on the blood vessels of the frog leg was shown. In anaesthetised dogs, intravenous injection of the infusion lowered the blood pressure, and there was not any effect on intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection with the dosage of 2 ml/kg of 1:1 infusion. Its toxicity in mice was very low.