• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.684-692
• /
• 2002

Cordyceps militaris has been known as a Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of tuberculosis, asthma, kidney disease, debility and fatigue etc. This study was attempted to investigate the therapeutic effect of C. militaris extract on the cytotoxic activity of HepG2, human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in SD rats. C. militaris extracts inhibited significantly the proliferation of HepG2 cells in vitro. Carbon tetrachloride(CCl₄) caused a significant an increase in liver weight, serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) activity, alkaline phosphatase(ALP), serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), microsomal TBARS, and decrease in microsomal detoxification enzymes (cytochrome P-450, P-450 reductase, cytochrome b5, b5 reductase). TBARS and ALP in serum pretreated with C. militaris extracts (300mg/kg/day, 600mg/kg/day) was significantly reduced compared to control group(CCl₄). Cytochrome b5 and b5 reductase activities were significantly increased in CM300 (300 mg/kg/day) and CM600 group(600 mg/kg/day), and cytochrome P-450 reductase was significantly increased in CM300 group. Pretreatment (100, 300, and 600 mg/kg/day for 7 days) of C. militaris with CCl₄ was significantly inhibited the accumulation microsomal TBARS and the significantly increased in the cytochrome P-450 activity. These results suggested that C. militaris (300mg/kg/day for 7 days) has appreciable therapeutic effect on CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.201-205
• /
• 2009

Effects of Cordyceps militaris mycelia on rumen microbial fermentation were determined by measuring in vitro gas production, cellulose digestion and VFA concentrations. C. militaris mycelia was added to buffered rumen fluid with final concentrations of 0.00, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 g/L and incubation times were for 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h. At all incubation times, the gas production showed a quadratic increase with the supplementation of C. militaris mycelia; maximum responses were seen with 0.25 g/L supplementation. However, the gas production was significantly lower for the 0.30 g/L supplementation than for the 0.25 g/L supplementation from 9 h to 72 h incubation. The cellulose filter paper (FP) digestion showed a quadratic increase, as did the gas production except at 3 h incubation. The concentration of total VFA was significantly increased by the supplementation of C. militaris mycelia compared with the control treatment; the highest response was also seen with 0.25 g/L supplementation. This was true for responses in the concentration of acetic and propionic acids. As opposed to other responses, the responses of pH to the supplementation of C. militaris mycelia showed a quadratic decrease from 3 h to 36 h incubation. In conclusion, C. militaris mycelia alter the mixed rumen microbial fermentation with increases in the production of gas and VFA, and cellulose FP digestion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.34 no.10
• /
• pp.1531-1535
• /
• 2005

The present study was designed to investigate the antidiabetic effect of Cordyceps militaris on activities of hepatic glucose-regulating enzymes, such as glucokinase (GK), pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and acetyI-CoA carboxylase (ACC). We have isolated the active compounds, CM-A and CM-B from C. militaris and the extracts are under investigation to determine their mechanism of action. Hepatic GK, PDH and ACC activities were significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared with the control. Treatment with CM-A led to a rise in percentage of enzymes by 380$\%$,396$\%$ and 286$\%$, respectively, relative to control levels. CM-B were 329$\%$, 312$\%$ and 239$\%$, respectively. The increase in GK and ACC activities was linearly proportional with increased ratio of CM-A. Our findings suggest that C. militaris exerted antihyperglycemic potency, which is thought to be mediated through activation of GK, PDH and ACC enzymes related to glucose metabolism directly or indirectly and therefore C. militaris is promising as antidiabetic functional foods.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.58 no.2
• /
• pp.81-90
• /
• 2014

In order to determine the functional benefits of Cordyceps militaris in the immune system, we examined the immunomodulatory activities of C. militaris using an immunocompromised C57BL/6 mice, mouse spleen cells, RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, and A549 lung carcinoma cells. Mice were injected intraperitioneally with an immunosuppressive drug, cyclophosphamide, and then administered orally with 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg of 50% ethanol extract of C. militaris (CME 30, CME 100 and CME 300) for 14 days. CME increased splenocyte proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activity compared to 3% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-treated control mice. CME also increased the production of Th1 cytokines, IL-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in spleen cells isolated from CME-injected mice and in vitro, which suggested the enhanced cellular immunity in response to CME. CME also increased splenocyte proliferation, NK cell activity, and IL-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production compared to 1 ${\mu}M$ methotrexate-treated spleen cells in vitro. We examined whether C. militaris regulates the production of inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. CME inhibited LPS-induced NO production and iNOS expression in a dose dependent manner, while COX-2 expression was remained unchanged. In addition, CME also has free radical scavenging activity, indicating its antioxidant activity. These results indicate that C. militaris enhances immune activity by promoting immune cell proliferation and cytokine production.

• Journal of Mushroom
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.13-21
• /
• 2022

Cordyceps militaris, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has multiple health-promoting effects. It is used as a herbal remedy and health food in Asian countries. Cultured mycelia are often used as a substitute for natural C. militaris. In the present study, the mycelia and fruiting bodies of artificially cultured C. militaris were analyzed using a metabolomics approach. The protein and crude fat contents of the mycelia were substantially higher than those of the fruiting bodies. The top three abundant amino acids in the mycelia were proline (3.9 g/100 g), aspartic acid (2.9 g/100 g), and glutamic acid (2.7 g/100 g). The carbohydrate content was similar in the fruiting bodies and mycelia. Analysis revealed that both the fruiting bodies and mycelia are rich in phenolic compounds and exhibit antioxidant activity. Further, six metabolites were significantly different between the mycelia and fruiting bodies. The levels of Ca, glucose, Mg, and Se were higher in the mycelia than in the fruiting bodies. In contrast, mannitol and Zn were more abundant in the fruiting bodies. The current study provides a comprehensive metabolic profile of the mycelia and fruiting bodies of artificially cultured C. militaris. Such an exercise is potentially important for understanding the metabolism of C. militaris and facilitating the use of cultured mycelia as a supplement to C. militaris fruiting bodies in traditional Chinese medicine.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.536-539
• /
• 1998

The anti-complementary activity (immuno-stimulating activity) was tested for the exo-polymers (extra-cellular polymer) produced from submerged mycelial cultures of 21 types of higher fungi. Anti-complementary activity of the exo-polymer from Cordyceps militaris showed the highest (69.0%) followed by Pleurotus ostreatus (63.7%) and Trametes suaveolens (61.4%). The mycelial growth rate and biomass doubling time of C. militaris in a 5 I air-lift fermenter were 0.0255 $h^{-1}$ and 27.2 h, respectively. The yield of the exo-polymer produced from the culture broth of C. militaris was 2.95 mg of dry weight/ml of culture broth. Sugar and amino acid compositions of this exo-polymer were analyzed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.9
• /
• pp.1188-1191
• /
• 2004

Two species of marine catfish, Arius maculatus and Osteogeneiosus militaris, belonging to family Ariidae were analysed electrophoretically for genetic variation in 6 enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), malic enzyme (ME) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Eighteen individuals of each species were studied. Two loci MDH and ADH were polymorphic in both. Average heterozygosity in A. maculatus was 1.46, while it was 2.5 in O. militaris. The allele frequencies were used to estimate Nei's genetic distance (D). The D value was calculated to be 0.6879. Two isozyme loci, ME and SOD, were found to be the most reliable species specific markers. No tissue specific loci were observed for the enzymes studied, the bands being identical in each case. The genetic distance observed between O. militaris and A. maculatus in this study suggests that they would be more appropriately classified as species of the same genus rather than being assigned separate genera.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.169-174
• /
• 2001

Many Cordyceps spp. were collected for excellent strains selection at near Wanju-kun from May to October, 2000. They were identified. As the resulting, They were 2 genera and 4 species. 6 strains were got through 4 species culture. 6 strains are Cordyceps militaris f. albino, C, gracilaides, C. militaris and Isaria japoica. Among them, 4 species used for induction of artifitial fruiting body. 3 strains of them were selected for excellent strains. excellent strains are Cordyceps militaris and Isaria japoica.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.105-108
• /
• 2001

The wild entomopathogenic fungi, Cordyceps militaris, were collected at the Whawang mountain, Korea. The pupae of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, were used as infecting hosts for the production of the silkworm-mili-taris dongchunhacho, silkworm vegetable wasps and plant worms with C. militaris. Three inoculation methods in terms of injection, spray and immersion were tested against the silkworm pupae. The three inocu1ation methods revealed 100% infectivity to the silkworm pupae tested. Of the three inoculation methods, the injection method was highly effective in the reduction of the period required for the endosclerotium and the completion of fruiting body formation. These results indicate that the silkworm pupae are very effective host insects for the production of C. militaris.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.9 no.6
• /
• pp.440-446
• /
• 2004

Interest in in vitro study of entomopathogenic fungi, including Cordyceps species, has been increasing due to their valuable bioactive compounds and biocontrol effects. Among Cordyceps species, in vitro stromata of C militaris has been successfully produced and cultivated for industrial purposes. However, genetic study on in vitro stromata formation of C militaris has not been carried out yet. Here, relationship between mating system and perithecial stromata formation of C militaris is reported. Mating system was determined by observing perithecial stromata formation from mono-ascospore cultures and their pair-wise combinations. Certain combinations of mono-ascospore strains produced perithecial club-shaped stromata, whereas other combinations produced either no stromata or only abnormal non-perithecial stromata. Similarly, mono­ascospore cultures without combination produced either no stromata or only abnormal non­perithecial stromata. Despite obvious heterothallism, self-fertility was occasionally observed in few strains of C militaris. These observations indicated that C militaris behaves as a bipolar het­erothallic fungus and requires two mating compatible strains in order to produce regular club­shaped perithecial stromata, a fundamental requirement for its industrial cultivation.