In vitro bioactive potential and chemical analysis of the n-hexane extract of the medicinal mushroom, Cordyceps militaris

Abstract

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.

Review: The endless nutritional and pharmaceutical benefits of the Himalayan gold, Cordyceps; Current knowledge and prospective potentials

“…Various Cordyceps originated bioactive compounds having promising anticancer activity that were previously reported (El-Hagrassi et al 2020). For example, cordycepin showed antitumor activity against B16 melanoma cells (Yoshikawa 2004 and.…”

“…Cordyceps are found to regulate and also lower the blood sugar levels by improving metabolism of glucose and conserving hepatic glycogen (Zhao et al 2002;El-Hagrassi et al 2020). Cordyceps can increase secretion of glucokinase and hexokinase which are glucose regulating enzymes secreted by the liver (Kim et al 2017).…”

“…Hypercholesterolemia is an indicator for high risk of cardiovascular attack. El-Hagrassi et al (2020) reported the role of C. militaris in lowering the total cholesterol level and the level of triglycerides. A hot-water extract of C. sinensis mycelia has been found to reduce total cholesterol concentration in the serum of mice, by reducing LDL(lowdensity lipoprotein) hypocholesterolemic activities (El-Hagrassi et al 2020).…”

“…El-Hagrassi et al (2020) reported the role of C. militaris in lowering the total cholesterol level and the level of triglycerides. A hot-water extract of C. sinensis mycelia has been found to reduce total cholesterol concentration in the serum of mice, by reducing LDL(lowdensity lipoprotein) hypocholesterolemic activities (El-Hagrassi et al 2020). A hot-water extract of C. sinensis mycelia has been found to reduce total cholesterol concentration in the serum of mice, by reducing LDL) and very-low-density lipoprotein, and increasing good cholesterol concentration (HDL cholesterol) (Koh 2003).…”

“…Cordyceps sinensis has potent antioxidant and anti-aging properties (Yamaguchi et al 2000;Ji et al 2009). Also, many studies elucidated the antioxidant effect of extracts obtained from C. militaris (El-Hagrassi et al 2020). The fruiting bodies extract of C. militaris showed strong DPPH radical scavenging activity, which indicated high antioxidant activity, while the fermented mycelia extract had stronger total antioxidant activity, and reducing capability (Dong et al 2014).…”