Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40059099›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Cordycepin combined with antioxidant effects improves fatigue caused by excessive exercise.

Chunfang Cheng, Shasha Zhang, Chong Chen, Yanchun Gong, Kaizhi Ding, Guoyin Li, Wei Jiang, Zhenyu Zhang, Bin He, Zhihong Hu and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Frontiers in nutrition · 2026
    Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
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  9. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Chunfang Cheng *School of Sport Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
Shasha Zhang *School of Sport Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
Chong Chen *School of Sport Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
Yanchun GongSchool of Sport Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
Kaizhi DingSchool of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
Guoyin LiSchool of Sport Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
Wei JiangJiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
Zhenyu ZhangSchool of Sport Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
Bin HeSchool of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
Zhihong HuSchool of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
Yuhua LiSchool of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
Lihua YaoSchool of Sport Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China. yaolh7905@163.com.

Funding

Jiangxi "Double Thousand Plan" Cultivation Program for Distinguished Talents in Scientific and Technological Innovation to Li-Hua Yao jxsq2019201011Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province 20202ACBL206029the Key Construction Laboratory Program of Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University 2017ZDPYJD004The Science and Technology Program of Department of Education of Jiangxi Province GJJ2401201This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China 31960193, 31660275
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Excessive exercise can lead to physical fatigue and disruption of the antioxidant system, resulting in neurological damage and cognitive decline. Cordycepin, the main component of Cordyceps militaris, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. In this study, the anti-fatigue effect and potential mechanism of action of cordycepin were investigated using a forced exercise mouse model. The results showed that oral administration of cordycepin enhanced exercise endurance, increased liver and muscle glycogen content, and simultaneously decreased serum levels of lactic acid, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and blood urea nitrogen (p < 0.05). In addition, cordycepin had antioxidant effects, increasing superoxide dismutase activity and decreasing serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p < 0.01). In vitro experiments further demonstrated the antioxidant and anti-fatigue effects of cordycepin. Behavioral tests showed that the learning and memory ability of mice in the excessive exercise model group decreased to 40% compared with the control group. Cordycepin alleviated the learning and memory deficits in the over-exercised mice, significantly reduced the levels of fatigue metabolites and oxidative stress in vivo (p < 0.05), and altered the levels of neurotransmitters levels (p < 0.05). Furthermore, cordycepin modulated Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1-mediated oxidative stress and enhanced BDNF levels (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that cordycepin can alleviate excessive exercise-induced fatigue by modulating the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and BDNF expression, providing strong supporting evidence for the development of cordycepin-functional foods or anti-fatigue drugs.

Indexed as

AntioxidantsDeoxyadenosinesFatiguePhysical Conditioning, AnimalAnimalsBrain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorMaleMalondialdehydeMiceNF-E2-Related Factor 2Oxidative StressAntioxidantsBrain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorcordycepinDeoxyadenosinesMalondialdehydeNfe2l2 protein, mouseNF-E2-Related Factor 2Anti-fatigueAntioxidantCordycepinLearning and memory

Identifiers

PMID40059099
PMCPMC11891301

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.