• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2009

The mushroom Cordyceps militaris has been used for a long time in eastern Asia as a nutraceutical and in traditional Chinese medicine as a treatment for cancer patients. In the present study, a cytotoxic antifungal protease was purified from the dried fruiting bodies of C. militaris using anion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE-Sepharose column. Electrophoretic analyses indicated that this protein, designated C. militaris protein(CMP), has a molecular mass of 12 kDa and a pI of 5.1. The optimum conditions for protease activity were a temperature of $37^{\circ}C$ and pH of $7.0{\sim}9.0$. The enzyme activity was specifically inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. Amino acid composition of intact CMP and amino acid sequences of three major peptides from a tryptic digest of CMP were determined. CMP exerted strong antifungal effect against the growth of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, and exhibited cytotoxicity against human breast and bladder cancer cells. These results indicate that C. militaris represents a source of a novel protein that might be applied in diverse biological and medicinal applications.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.280-289
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• 2002

The quality characteristics of breads with different concentrations(2%, 4%) of Paecilomyces japonica (J2, J4) and Cordyceps militaris (M2, M4) powder were compared in terms if sensory and mechanical properties. In the sensory test, J2 and M2 groups gained good scores in taste, texture and odor acceptance as control grourp. Paecilomyces japonica-added group showed higher moisture and bigger volume than that of control group, and Cordyceps militaris group showed lower moisture content and decreasing volume. 'L' values of J and M groups was lower than control, and the longer the storage period, the lower the lightness. The more Paecilomyces japonica was added, the higher the 'a' value was, but Cordyceps militaris showed an opposite trend. The hardness of the bread was the lowest in J2 group and the highest in M4 group, and the longer tile storage period. the higher the hardness was (p＜.001). Overall, the addition of 2% Paecilomyces japonica showed a similar tendency with control group, and showed good scores especially in acceptance, moisture and volume. Paecilomyces japonica appeared to be more desirable than Cordyceps militaris.

• Mycobiology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.178-181
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• 2005

Cordyceps militaris specimens were continuously collected by Entomopathogenic Fungal Culture Collection (EFCC), Kangwon National University from different mountains, national parks and recreation parks of Korea from 1986 to 2002, mainly from late May to October of each year. Dry specimens of C. militaris along with their isolates have been preserved in EFCC. Fruiting of C. militaris was induced from single ascospore isolates as well as their combinations in brown rice medium. Fruiting experiments showed that combinations of single ascospore isolates produced fertile fruiting bodies, but single isolates could not produce any fruiting bodies. It was shown that two isolates of the opposite mating types were required to produce fertile stromata. However, combinations of the same mating type isolates produced no fruiting body, showing that C. militaris is a bipolar, heterothallic fungus.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1213-1219
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the feeding Cordyceps militaris extract on the improvement of the free fatty acid, lipid peroxide, creatinine and enzyme (creatine phosphokinase; CPK, lactate dehydrogenase; LDH, alkaline phosphatase; ALP, lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase; LCAT) activities in the sera of dietary hypercholesterolemic rats (SD strain, male) fed the experimental diets for 5 weeks. Concentrations of free fatty acid, lipid peroxide and CPK, LDH, ALP activities in sera were fairly reduced in the Cordyceps militaris extract administration group (CHE) than in the hypercholesterolemic diet group (CHD). However, no significance was found in the effect of an creatinine concentration among the groups. The LCAT activity in serum was increased in the Cordyceps militaris extract administration (CHE) than in the hypercholesterolemic diet group (CHD). From these results, Cordyceps militaris extracts were effective on the improvement of the lipid components and metabolic enzyme activities in sera of dietary hypercholesterolemic rats.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.171-176
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• 2012

We previously isolated cordycepin, guanosine and tryptophan from Cordyceps militaris as antiadipogenic constituents. For the quality control of C. militaris for anti-adipogenic activity, simultaneous analytical method using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detection (DAD) was developed and validated. Quantitation of these compounds in various Cordyceps samples from different sources and various extraction methods were conducted using developed method. Our study shows that natural Cordyceps and host insect possess higher content than cultured ones and fruiting bodies, respectively. The content of cordycepin showed great difference in different C. militaris samples whereas trytophan content was similar in tested samples. Addition of water to extraction solvent greatly increased the yield of guanosine and tryptophan. High temperature and longer extraction time increased yield of guanosine, whereas the content of trytophan was decreased in high temperature during extraction with water. Extraction using ultrasonic apparatus slightly increased extraction efficiency. Cordycepin, however, has little variation in different extraction method tested. Strong anti-adipogenic activity was observed in the samples that contain all the three constituents. Taken together, quantitation of these compounds using developed analytical method might provide basic requirement for the anti-adipogenic activity of C. militaris.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.93-101
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• 2022

Cordyceps militaris mycelium extracts containing high amounts of cordycepin were evaluated in vitro for their anti-inflammatory and tumor cell growth-inhibitory activities. All extracts dose dependently inhibited the increased production of inflammatory mediators including reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and 𝛽-hexosaminidase in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammatory cells. All extracts were evaluated for anti-proliferative activity against normal RBL-2H3 cells and diverse types of cancer cell lines, including HCT, MC5-7, U-87MG, AGS, and A549 cells. The extract showed the strongest growth inhibition (IC₅₀ = 28.13 ㎍/mL) relative to vehicle-treated control cells against fibrosarcoma (MC5-7). We have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity of C. militaris via inhibition of NO, ROS production, and 𝛽-hexosaminidase release in activated cells. C. militaris mycelium extract was also evaluated mechanistically and found to exert six types of anti-cancer activity, confirming its pharmacological potential. Our study suggests C. militaris use as a potential source of anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents. C. militaris may also be considered a functional food.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.26 no.1 s.84
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• pp.1-7
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• 1998

In order to find relationship within and between entomopathogenic species, analysis of protein band pattern in mycelia of 25 isolates was conducted by UPGMA. The results allowed differentiation of three groups on 85% similarity coefficient. Similarity coefficient within C. militaris was $0.787{\sim}1.000$, C. kyushuensis was 0.958-1.000 and C. pruinosa was 0.993-1.000. C210 and C298 isolates which had somewhat immersed perithecia, comparable to other C. militaris isolates, had 91% similarity. C108, C225-1 and C228 isolates pathogenic on Lepidopterous larvae had 89% similarity. Closely related species to C. militaris were C. kyushuensis and C. pruinosa. And similarity between C. pruinosa and C. kyushuensis was 88%. Similarity between C. bifusispora formed conidia on media and Paecilomyces tenuipes was 89%. C. scarabaeicola pathogenic specifically on adult Scarabaeidae had 82% similarity with above two species. C118 identified as C. militaris showed different protein banding patterns.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.468-478
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• 2019

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of cordyceps militaris extracts for the improvement of cognitive dysfunction in PC12 and BV2 cells. Cordyceps militaris extracts was prepared by extracting with distilled water. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay using PC12 cells and BV2 cells. Confirmed effects of L-glutamate induced cytotoxicity test, Acetylcoline (ACh) concentration, and Acetylcolinestase (AChE) activity in PC12 cells. Anti-inflammatory activities of cordyceps militaris extracts was measured through changes in the levels of nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced BV2 cell. In addition, we measured the expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$, p38, JNK, and caspase-3 in western blot analysis. Cordyceps militaris extracts showed no cytotoxicity at the concentrations of 1, 10, and $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ except for the concentration of $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Cordyceps militaris extracts protected the cell and exhibited significant increases in the ACh concentration and a significant decrease in the AChE activity in L-glutamate induced PC12 cells. Moreover, cordyceps militaris extracts inhibited the productions NO, and PGE2 level and the protein expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$, p38, JNK, caspase-3 in LPS-induced BV2 cells. These results indicate that cordyceps militaris extracts possible prevented and improved cognitive dysfuction symptoms. Thus, cordyceps militaris extracts may be a novel natural material option for the improvement of cognitive dysfunction.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.463-469
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the Cordyceps militaris extract on the improvement of the glucide metabolism in serum of streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg BW, IP injection)-induced diabetic rats (SD strain, male) fed the experimental diets for 5 weeks. Concentrations of creatinine, lipid peroxide and NEFA in sera were significantly higher in the STZ-induced diabetic group (group DMG) and STZ+Cordyceps militaris extract administration group (group DMS) than those in the control group (group BD). However, the concentrations of creatinine, lipid peroxide and NEFA in sera were reduced in the group DMS than those in the group DMG. The activity of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) in serum was lower in the group DMS than in the group DMG. The activity of LCAT in serum was increased in the group DMS (Cordyceps militaris extract administration) than in the group DMG. The results indicate that Cordyceps militaris extract were effective in the improvement of the glucide metabolism in the sera of STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.820-827
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• 2015

The present study was performed to investigate the various radical scavenging activities of fermented Undaria pinnatifida by the mycelia fermentation method. U. pinnatifida was fermented with Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris ) mycelia using solid culture and compared with unfermentated U. pinnatifida and C. militaris mycelia for antioxidant activities. The various radical scavenging activities of extracts from U. pinnatifida fermented with C. militaris mycelia (FUCM) were evaluated by electron spin resonance. The antioxidant activities of the FUCM extracts were assayed for ferric reducing antioxidant power, 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethybenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity, and oxygen radical absorption capacity. The free radical scavenging activity of FUCM extracts was higher than that of C. militaris mycelia or U. pinnatifida alone. FUCM extracts were significantly (p < 0.05) increased up to 35 times, 10 times, and 16 times that of U. pinnatifida extracts on DPPH, alkyl, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, respectively. These results indicate that FUCM extracts have different chemical ingredients from U. pinnatifida and could provide beneficial antioxidant activity.