Composition and Antitumor Activity of the Mycelia and Fruiting Bodies of <i>Cordyceps </i><i>m</i><i>ilitaris</i>

Abstract

Cordyceps militaris contains many kinds of bioactive components with the various physiological activities, but has less natural sources of fruiting bodies. Compared with the fruiting bodies from the same origin, the fermented mycelia contained significantly higher amount of protein, crude fat and polysaccharides. The mycelia had more amount of the total amino acids, with proline (3.84 ± 0.12 g 100g -1 ), leucine (2.96 ± 0.10 g 100g -1 ), and aspartic acid (2.68 ± 0.06 g 100g -1 ) as the top three aboundant amino acids, while glutamic acid (3.56 ± 0.07 g 100g - 1), aspartic acid (2.52 ± 0.13 g 100g -1 ), and valine (2.35 ± 0.11 g 100g -1 ) in fruiting bodies. The tested minerals in the mycelia were much more than those in fruiting bodies, especially Selenium which was nondetectable in fruiting bodies. However, the mycelia had lower level of cordycepin and mannitol. The mycelia also exhibited higher antitumor activity against six tested human cancer cell lines, with the range of IC 50 (μg ml -1 ) from 25.03 ± 1.37 to 39.81 ± 0.54. In the animal test for liver cancer cell Hep G2, even high-dose treatment (250 mg kg-1 BW/day) of the extract of the mycelia inhibited the growth of tumor by only 27.6%, significantly lower than the positive control, CTX (30 mg kg -1 BW/day), but had no influence on body weight. The results confirm the potential of cultivated mycelia to be a good substitute of natural products.

Hypoglycemic Activity through a Novel Combination of Fruiting Body and Mycelia ofCordyceps militarisin High-Fat Diet-Induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Mice

“…A few studies have demonstrated the effect of each of fruiting body and mycelia of CM strain on glucose metabolism [ 31 , 38 ] in which their polysaccharide fraction has been attributed to hypoglycemic activity. In a seminal study, it has been reported that, compared to fruiting bodies of same origin, the mycelia contain not only the higher amount of polysaccharides but also adenosine [ 39 ]. In another study, higher carbohydrate content has been demonstrated in mycelia than fruiting bodies [ 40 ], while Zhang's study demonstrated higher potency of CM fruiting body than CM mycelia [ 38 ].…”

Cordyceps militaris (L.) Link Fruiting Body Reduces the Growth of a Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Line by Increasing Cellular Levels of p53 and p21

“…A previous study from some of us has shown that a methanolic extract of C. militaris fruiting body presented activity as inhibitor of cell growth towards a panel of human tumor cell lines (while not affecting the proliferation of non-tumor porcine liver primary cells). This effect was further confirmed in other human tumor cell lines, in a recently published work in which the composition and antitumor activity of methanolic extracts from the mycelia and fruiting body of C. militaris were compared [15]. However, to date, there is no information regarding the mechanism of action of this extract.…”

“…We have previously shown that a methanolic extract from C. militaris fruiting body could inhibit cell growth in human tumor cell lines and was not toxic to non-tumor liver porcine primary cells (PLP2) [16]. Decreased cell growth following treatment with this extract was recently further observed in various other human tumor cell lines [15]. Nevertheless, the mechanism of action of this extract has never been investigated.…”

A 90-day subchronic toxicity study of submerged mycelial culture of Cordyceps militaris in rats

“…Cordyceps contains a high amount of polysaccharide with a wide range. 23,24 Protein levels in Cordyceps mycelium have been reported to be approximately 5.6-31.6 g per 100 g. [24][25][26] Fat contents reported previously were above 4.5 g per 100 g. 24,[27][28][29] We have performed an analysis of bioactive compounds and found that the adenosine, cordycepin, N 6 -(2hydroxyethyl)-adenosine and ergosterol contents in C. militaris mycelium were 1.7, 0.3, 0.1 and 2.2 mg g −1 , respectively. 21 The nutritional values of C. militaris detected indicate its potential use in well-balanced diets and as a source of bioactive compounds.…”