• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.148-150
• /
• 2011

Cordyceps militaris(CM) has been used as a traditional folk medicine to strengthen the immune system and regain energy for hundreds of years in Far East Asian countries. In the present studies, we determined that the stimulatory effect of Cordyceps militaris on testosterone production in male mouse rats. Results illustrated that changes of the body weight, food and water intake of the rats were not observed in this study but the concentration of testosterone in the serum of the rats was significantly increased by CM(p < 0.05). Therefore fruiting bodies of CM grown on the drone bee medium may be an integrative medicine for the treatment of reproductive problems caused by insufficient testosterone levels in human males.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.180-184
• /
• 2011

This study was carried out to identify the genetic characteristics among isolates of Paecilomyces spp.and Cordyceps spp. by URP-PCR analysis. Twenty URP (universal rice primer) primers of 20 mer which were designed from repetitive sequence of rice, were used for producing PCR DNA fingerprints of the mushrooms. Of them, 5 URP primers, URP2F, URP2R, URP9F, URP4R, and URP17R amplified genomic DNA of the mushrooms with polymorphic PCR patterns. On isolates of Cordyceps militaris, primers URP1F, URP2R, URP6R and URP17R produced PCR polymorphic bands of 4 types. Isolates of Cordypces sp. that are isolated from different area of Korea were identical to isolate of C. militaris, while other species of Cordypces were different to the PCR profiles. However, the URP primers did not identify the polymorphism of PCR profile on isolates of P. japonica.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.177-185
• /
• 2004

The effects of liquid culture conditions and nutrient sources on the formation of protein-binding polysaccharide (PS) in Cordyceps militaris were examined. The formation amount of PS was increased in proportion to the growth rate of mycelium, in case of higher aeration or lower acidity. The optimum growth temperature of the mycelia was 25$^{\circ}C$ for the formation of PS. The optimum carbon source and nitrogen source were glucose and peptone, respectively. The ratio of C/N was optimal with 3％ glucose to 0.5 ％ peptone. The sugar composition in the PS was greatly changed according to the carbon sources. The mycelium of Cordyceps militaris by liquid culture showed a higher electron donating ability than that by solid culture.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.197-205
• /
• 2015

The comparative effects of the fibrinolytic action, antioxidative activity, and tyrosinase inhibition of Cordyceps militaris powder and fermented Cordyceps militaris powders were investigated using several microscopic organisms. The nutritional components such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and minerals were also measured. The total phenolic compounds and flavonoid concentrations were highest in the Cordyceps militaris powder fermented by Aspergillus oryzae. Major minerals were K, Ca, Mg, and Zn. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (native-PAGE) analysis of the total protein patterns of Cordyceps militaris powder and fermented Cordyceps militaris powders revealed slight varietal differences. Fibrinolytic activity was highest in the Cordyceps militaris powder fermented by Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus kawachii. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was slightly stronger in the powder fermented by Monascus purpureus; however, these samples all exhibited a relatively low activity when compared with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Tyrosinase inhibition activity was stronger in the powder fermented by Aspergillus oryzae than in unfermented powder. These results may provide basic data for understanding the biological activities and chemical characteristics of Cordyceps militaris powder fermented by several microscopic organisms for the development of functional foods.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.27 no.1 s.88
• /
• pp.15-19
• /
• 1999

One hundred and six Cordyceps cultures including five cultures of Paecilomyces tenuipes were used for production of artificial fruiting body. In the test of artificial fruiting body formation, no fruiting bodies were induced on media containing PDA and ground silkworm pupae with liquid nitrogen. The best fruiting body formation was showed on media which mixed at the ratio of 1 unsticky rice to 3.5 water. But fruiting bodies formed on media mixed at the ratio 1 unpolished rice to 2.5 water. Optimal temperature in inducing artificial fruiting body was at $20^{\circ}C$. Twenty seven isolates were selected as good cultures for production of artificial fruiting body. Maturation of fruiting bodies incubated on rice grain media was completed for about 50 to 65 days.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.35-51
• /
• 2009

Three different Cordyceps militaris(Paecilomyces tenuipes and Cordyceps militaris from grain or pupae) were analysed for their chemical composition, fatty acids composition and the concentration of amino acids, cordycepin and heavy metal to obtain basic information on them as feed supplements for livestock. The crude protein content of C. militaris from grain and pupae was 76.16 and 75.45%, respectively, being higher than that of P. tenuipes(57.21%). The concentration of linoleic acid was much higher but that of linolenic acid was much lower for C. militaris from grain than for the others. The cordycepin content was significantly higher for C. militaris from grain than for that from pupae (1.64% vs 0.68% on a DM basis). But cordycepin was not detected in P. tenuipes. Heavy metal contents(Cr, Pb, Cd, Hg) for all C. militaris were below the allowance levels recommended by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Republic of Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.11-17
• /
• 2002

This experiment was carried out to study formation of fruitbody with Cordyceps scarabaeicola (EFCC C-252) isolate. This isolate was the one of best fruitbody formation on brown rice 60 g plus 30 g silkworm pupa media among EFCC C-251, EFCC C-252, EFCC C-1092 from EFCC (Entomopathogenic Fungal Culture Collection) of Kangwon National University. Fruiting body was formed only isolate EFCC C-252 among tested isolates on the medium of brown rice (60 g) and silkworm pupae (30 g). The optimal temperature and light for fruiting body formation were $25^{\circ}C$ and fluorescent light (300 lux). The maximal fruiting body formation was observed at 70 g of brown rice and 80 g of silkworm pupa medium which was treated separately. Fruiting body was formed maximally by 2 days interval of irrigation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.78-83
• /
• 2005

The optimum conditions of Cordyceps militaris mycelial growth, purification and characteristics of branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase [BCAT(EC 2.6.1.42)] in this mycelium were studied. Optimum pH, temperature and medium of culture of mycelia were 5.5, $22.5^{\circ}C$ and Hamada medium (HM), respectively. BCAT in homogenate of this mycelia was precipitated by 20-40% saturated solution of ammonium sulfate and then purified by DEAE (diethylaminoethyl)-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography with linear concentration gradient and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. A single band of purified enzyme was detected on SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). Optimum pH and temperature of BCAT were found to be 7.8 and $29^{\circ}C$, respectively. It showed activity toward L-leucine, L-isoleucine and L-valine as a substrate. The Km values of this enzyme for L-leucine were determined to be 5.88 mM for L-leucine.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.26 no.3 s.86
• /
• pp.380-386
• /
• 1998

To obtain basic data for mass production of Isaria japonica, cultural characteristics of japonica were investigated by using liquid, solid media and silkworms pupa. Mycelia grew favorably at the temperature of $23{\sim}28^{\circ}C$ on MYG medium with pH 7.0. The fruiting-body of I. japonica was induced below $20^{\circ}C$ in MYG liquid medium (Malt yeast glucose) under fluorescent light. In MYG basal medium mixed with pupal powder of silkworms, the fresh weight of fruiting-bodies was increased with increasing concentration of pupal powder. The highest yield of fruiting bodies was obtained in carbon-rich medium supplemented with pupal powder of silkworm. Also, fruiting-bodies of I. japonica were produced massively on the silkworm pupa placed on the stainless tray in the shortest time. The structure and shape of fruiting-bodies were coral-like, many-branched types with numerous conidiospores.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.249-258
• /
• 2013

The antioxidative activity and bioactivity of water, ethanol, and methanol extracts from Paecilomyces japonica (PJ), Cordyceps militaris (CM), and cordycepin-enriched C. militaris JLM0636 ($CM{\alpha}$) were tested in in vitro experimental models. The PJ water extract showed the highest extraction yield (42.53%). The highest content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids were found in the water extract of PJ, 2.72% and 1.73%, respectively. The major minerals were K, Mg, and Ca. The water extracts of PJ also showed the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity and reducing power. Linoleic acid peroxidation and antioxidative activities were strong in $CM{\alpha}$. The methanol extracts of PJ showed the highest inhibition activity against tyrosinase. Fibriolytic activity was higher in $CM{\alpha}$ than in CM. These results may provide basic data to understand the biological activities of bioactive materials derived from $CM{\alpha}$ for the development of functional foods, cosmetics, and antithrombotics.