New Insights Into the Biosynthesis of Typical Bioactive Components in the Traditional Chinese Medicinal Fungus Cordyceps militaris

Abstract

Cordyceps militaris, a traditional medicinal ingredient with a long history of application in China, is regarded as a high-value fungus due to its production of various bioactive ingredients with a wide range of pharmacological effects in clinical treatment. Several typical bioactive ingredients, such as cordycepin, D-mannitol, cordyceps polysaccharides, and N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine (HEA), have received increasing attention due to their antitumor, antioxidant, antidiabetic, radioprotective, antiviral and immunomodulatory activities. Here, we systematically sorted out the latest research progress on the chemical characteristics, biosynthetic gene clusters and pathways of these four typical bioactive ingredients. This summary will lay a foundation for obtaining low-cost and high-quality bioactive ingredients in large amounts using microbial cell factories in the future.

Increased Cordycepin Production in Yarrowia lipolytica Using Combinatorial Metabolic Engineering Strategies

“…Cordycepin has biological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal, immune stimulation, immunosuppression, and antitumor. It is widely used in functional foods, medicine, cosmetics, and animal husbandry. , Cordycepin was recently reported to be effective in relieving severe symptoms and sequelae specific to SARS-CoV2 …”

“…It is widely used in functional foods, medicine, cosmetics, and animal husbandry. 2,3 Cordycepin was recently reported to be effective in relieving severe symptoms and sequelae specific to SARS-CoV2. 4 Cordycepin is mainly obtained through chemical synthesis, extraction from natural Cordyceps fruiting bodies, and biosynthesis.…”

Comprehensive treatise of Hevansia and three new genera Jenniferia, Parahevansia and Polystromomyces on spiders in Cordycipitaceae from Thailand

“…Members of Cordycipitaceae ( Hypocreales , Ascomycota ) are parasitic on spiders ( Araneae ) and several orders of insects from larva to adult states ( Sung et al 2007 ; Shrestha et al 2016 ). Several species of this family are recognised for their economic importance, such as Cordyceps militaris (L.) Fr., a famous traditional Chinese medicine, edible mushroom and source of bioactive compounds ( Wu et al 2021 ) and others that are being used or developed as biopesticides against different insect pests ( Wang et al 2019 ; Sun et al 2020 ). Seventeen genera are established in this family from combined molecular phylogenetic and morphological evidence ( Zare and Gams 2016 ; Kepler et al 2017 ; Mongkolsamrit et al 2018 , 2020b ; Thanakitpipattana et al 2020 ; Wang et al 2020 ; Zhang et al 2020 ).…”

Structural Elucidation and Activities of Cordyceps militaris-Derived Polysaccharides: A Review

“…Cordyceps species have been used as medicine, tonics, and food for centuries in many countries ( 1 , 2 ). Approximately 750 Cordyceps species are mainly distributed in Asia, Europe, and North America ( 1 ).…”

“…The primary metabolite, polysaccharide, is one of the major water-soluble bioactive components of C. militaris ( 3 , 6 ). Compared to the secondary metabolites, C. militaris -derived polysaccharides have not been well characterized ( 1 , 2 , 4 , 10 – 12 ). Four years’ ago, Zhang et al reviewed the extraction, isolation, purification, structural characteristics, and bioactivities of C. militaris -derived polysaccharides ( 3 ).…”