Aims: Cordyceps militaris is a medicinal mushroom from Ascomycota. The aims of this study were to explore and identify the chemical compounds extracted in the non-polar fraction of the mushroom and to examine the biological potential of this extract. Methodology and results: The n-hexane extract metabolites were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and results revealed the presence of 37 compounds delivered from different chemical classes and were mainly comprised of fatty acids and their esters (72%), carboxylic acids and their esters (10.39%), and a sulphur compound (7.1%). The n-hexane extract recorded a promising antioxidant effect (80.9±1.5%) at 80 mg/mL total extract; potent cholesterol reduction activity (100%) was obtained after 96 h incubation by the total metabolites (4%). The cytotoxicity of the compounds revealed 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) ˃ 1 mg/mL and anti-rotavirus SA-11 effect where inhibition of virus attachment and penetration into infected cells was recorded at 50% effective concentration (IC50) of 300±0.2 µg/mL. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: This study confirmed the impact of the fatty acids produced by C. militaris as bioactive metabolites.

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Background Root-knot nematodes in general and Meloidogyne incognita, in particular, are pests that cause agricultural losses. Currently, nematode control relies on chemical nematicides, which are hazardous to the environment and human health. The increasing demand for ecofriendly nematicides has prompted researchers to look into biocontrol agents that act as efficient and long-lasting alternatives to the currently used chemicals. Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the in-vitro nematicidal activity of eight mushroom (Cordyceps militaris, Metacordyceps neogunnii, Hericium erinaceus, Dictyophora indusiata, Cerioporus squamosus, Tirmania nivea, Tirmania pinoyi, and Agaricus impudicus) extracts against M. incognita juveniles and eggs. Materials and methods Hydromethanolic extracts were prepared from the fruiting bodies of mushrooms under investigation. Then the obtained extracts were evaluated for their in-vitro nematicidal activity against M. incognita juveniles’ second stage after 24, 48, and 72 h of treatment, also against their eggs. Results and conclusion All tested mushroom extracts were capable of inducing mortality in M. incognita second stage juveniles with mortality percentages ranging from 79.3 to 97%. On the other hand, the tested mushroom extracts exhibited some nematostatic and nematicidal activity against M. incognita eggs as compared with the control after 7 days using 80 µl/ml concentration. The tested mushroom extracts caused suppression in M. incognita eggs hatching with inhibition rates that ranged from 59.38 to 81.25%. A. impudicus hydromethanolic extract showed the highest inhibition as compared with the control and other tested mushroom extracts as it caused a relative suppression that reached 81.25% against M. incognita eggs after 7 days of exposure. The same mushroom extract has achieved a juveniles mortality of 97%. A. impudicus extract is nominated as a potential nematicidal agent. Further studies are required to confirm the potency of this extract and analyze its chemical profile.

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Mushrooms are generous source of nutritional, medicinal compounds, and industrial uses of the mushrooms still need to be worked out for their important applications. Mushrooms have significant enzymatic machinery allowing their application in different industries. Capabilities of different members of mushrooms have encouraged researchers to investigate further applications of these macrofungi in fields other than food and pharmaceutical industries. Specially, owing to the current shortage in global resources, contamination caused by plastic components and the incredible increase in population worldwide needs alternatives through macrofungi. Therefore this review aims to put light spot on enzymes production by mushrooms.