Metabolites and Their Bioactivities from the Genus Cordyceps

Abstract

The Cordyceps genus is a group of ascomycete parasitic fungi, and all known species of this genus are endoparasites; they mainly feed on insects or arthropods and a few feed on other fungi. Fungi of this genus have evolved highly specific and complex mechanisms to escape their host’s immune system and coordinate their life cycle coefficients with those of their hosts for survival and reproduction; this mechanism has led to the production of distinctive metabolites in response to the host’s defenses. Herein, we review approximately 131 metabolites discovered in the genus Cordyceps (including mycelium, fruiting bodies and fungal complexes) in the past 15 years, which can be used as an important source for new drug research and development. We summarize chemical structures, bioactivity and the potential application of these natural metabolites. We have excluded some reports that originally belonged to Cordyceps, but whose taxonomic attribution is no longer the Cordyceps genus. This can and will serve as a resource for drug discovery.

Activities and metabolomics of Cordyceps gunnii under different culture conditions

“…Using significance cutoffs of a false discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted p- value (<0.05) and a fold-change difference > 1, 886 metabolites were upregulated in the CG group, while 879 metabolites were upregulated in the WGA group ( Figure 4B ). To determine the structures of the upregulated compounds, a structural library containing 249 metabolites from the genus Cordyceps was assembled after removing common steroids and fatty acids ( Olatunji et al, 2018 ; Qu et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Opaliferin exhibited slight cytotoxicity ( Grudniewska et al, 2014 ). In addition, cordycepin is the most famous active metabolite from Cordyceps , and has a wide spectrum of activities ( Qu et al, 2022 ). Amdoxovir is a nucleoside compound with significant antiviral properties ( Quan and Peters, 2004 ).…”

“…According to the latest data from MycoBank, 1 Cordyceps is the most abundant and diverse genus in the family Clavellaceae, and 630 species have been identified, with more than 130 of these species reported in China ( Olatunji et al, 2018 ). Fungi of the genus Cordyceps (including stroma and host complexes, fruit body and mycelium) produce numerous secondary metabolites and have a variety of biological activities ( Qu et al, 2022 ).…”

“…According to the latest data from MycoBank, 1 Cordyceps is the most abundant and diverse genus in the family Clavellaceae, and 630 species have been identified, with more than 130 of these species reported in China (Olatunji et al, 2018). Fungi of the genus Cordyceps (including stroma and host complexes, fruit body and mycelium) produce numerous secondary metabolites and have a variety of biological activities (Qu et al, 2022). Cordyceps gunnii (heterotypic synonym: Paecilomyces gunnii), originally discovered in Tasmania, Australia, was first isolated and identified in China in Duyun county of Guizhou Province (Liang, 1983), and its activity and metabolites have attracted constant attention.…”

Ứng dụng phương ph&aacute;p phả hệ ph&acirc;n tử để định danh mẫu nấm <em>Cordyceps ninchukispora</em> thu thập ở LangBiang, Đ&agrave; Lạt, L&acirc;m Đồng

“…Cordyceps chứa hơn 200 hợp chất sinh học có giá trị trong thực phẩm, dược phẩm và tiềm năng điều trị nhiều bệnh lý. Trong nhóm này, loài nổi tiếng nhất là Cordyceps sinensis và nhiều loài khác, như Cordyceps militaris, Cordyceps pseudomilitaris, Cordyceps ophioglossoides và Cordyceps heteropoda cũng có tiềm năng điều trị bệnh lý (Olatunji & ctg., 2018;Qu, Li, Li, & Zhao, 2022). Tại Việt Nam, chiết xuất từ Cordyceps militaris đã được sử dụng để đẩy nhanh quá trình phát triển của tế bào da và tái tạo vùng da bị tổn thương, đồng thời đã được nghiên cứu trên mô hình chuột để đánh giá hiệu quả của sản phẩm này.…”