Cordyceps militaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Ascomycota
Class:
Sordariomycetes
Order:
Hypocreales
Family:
Cordycipitaceae
Genus:
Cordyceps
Species:
C. militaris
Binomial name
Cordyceps militaris
(L.) Fr. (1818)

Cordyceps militaris is a species of fungus in the family Cordycipitaceae, and the type species of the genus Cordyceps. It was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Clavaria militaris.[1] There are hundreds of species of cordyceps fungi.[2] Special characteristics of Cordyceps Militaris are its use in traditional Chinese medicine,[3] modern pharmaceuticals, and its relationship with insects and how it disperses.[4]

Description

Macroscopic characteristics

The fungus forms 1–8 cm high, club-shaped[5] and orange/red fruiting bodies, which grow out of dead underground pupae. The club is covered with the stroma, into which the actual fruit bodies, the perithecia, are inserted. The surface appears roughly punctured. The inner fungal tissue is whitish to pale orange.

Microscopic features

The spores are smooth, hyaline, long-filiform, and often septate. They decompose to maturity in 3–7 μm × 1–1.2 μm sub pores. The asci are long and cylindrical. Sometimes an anamorphic state, which is Isaria, is found. Masses of white mycelia form around the parasitized insect; however, these may not be of the same species.

Ecology and dispersal

Many authors consider cordyceps militaris quite common, spread throughout the northern hemisphere,[6] and fruiting bodies appear in Europe from August to November.

Cordyceps' method of dispersal is through parasitizing insects.[4] Researchers believe that the insect picks up the fungus while foraging for food.[7]The fungus makes its way deeper into its hosts body, eventually taking over and controlling the insect's behavior.[7]The fungus then makes its host climb to a high point, most likely the leaf of a nearby plant, and latch on, locking it in place.[7]The fungus continues to eat at its host, killing it in the process.[7]After a few days, the fungus's fruiting body begins to emerge from its host's body, where it then sends its spores out to infect more insects.[7]

Cultivation and use

A jar of dry C. militaris fruiting body.

C. militaris can be cultivated in a variety of media, including silkworm pupae, rice, and liquid nutrition.[8][9] It is considered inedible or "probably edible" by North American field guides.[10][5] In Asia the fruiting body is cooked as a mushroom in dishes like chicken soup,[11] pork bone soup[12] and hot pot.

C. militaris is a potential carrier of bio-metabolites for herbal drugs. Traditional medicine systems believe it "revitalizes" various systems of the body.[13] In traditional Chinese medicine, this fungus can serve as a cheap substitute for Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Both contain cordycepin.[8] Studies have found that excessive use of C. militaris can exert pressure on the filtering and excretory functions of the liver and kidneys, potentially leading to damage in these organs.[14]

C. militaris contains a protein CMP18 which induces apoptosis in vitro via a mitochondrion-dependent pathway. It is thought that it might be toxic when eaten. Cooking destroys this protein.[15]

Current research

Cordyceps militaris is well known within the realm of traditional Chinese medicine.[3] Its anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-aging properties have been well documented.[3] However, more thorough clinical trials of the fungus are difficult to construct, due to the biological complexity of the fungus.[3] The medicinal properties of Cordyceps Militaris can be attributed to a number of chemicals within the fungi, including cordycepin, cordymin, and many other extracts.[16] Cordycepin is especially important, with current research investigating ways to expedite the production of the chemical within cordyceps.[17]

The effects of cordyceps Militaris on general health is predicted to land it a substantial position in both medicinal areas as well as everyday diets.[18]

Distribution area

In June 2019, researchers discovered Cordyceps militaris at an altitude of 2500m in Hoàng Liên National Park Sa Pa- Lao Cai, Vietnam.[19]

Similar species

Cordyceps in the wild has more than 400 different species.[20] Similar species include Cordyceps sobolifera, Elaphocordyceps capitata, and Elaphocordyceps ophioglossoides.[5]

Chemistry

Bai & Sheu 2018 find a new protein causing apoptosis.[15][21]: 22  Song et al., 2009 finds microwave-assisted extraction to be a good technique for polysaccharide extraction from this fungus.: 196 [21]

Like other members of the Cordyceps genus, C. militaris produces the pharmacologically active compound cordycepin. Cordycepin is a nucleoside analogue of adenosine-differing by only a single hydroxyl group. It has been shown to induce apoptosis, reduce inflammation, and inhibit RNA transcription in cell cultures. For these reasons, it is under study for its anti-metastatic properties.[22]

References

  1. ↑ "GSD Species Synonymy: Cordyceps militaris (L.) Fr". Species Fungorum. CAB International. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  2. ↑ Ng, T B; Wang, H X (2010-02-18). "Pharmacological actions of Cordyceps , a prized folk medicine". Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 57 (12): 1509–1519. doi:10.1211/jpp.57.12.0001. ISSN 0022-3573. PMID 16354395. S2CID 35081231.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Shweta; Abdullah, Salik; Komal; Kumar, Abhinandan (2023-06-01). "A brief review on the medicinal uses of Cordyceps militaris". Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine. 7: 100228. doi:10.1016/j.prmcm.2023.100228. ISSN 2667-1425. S2CID 257216018.
  4. 1 2 de Menezes, Thaís Almeida; Aburjaile, Flávia Figueira; Quintanilha-Peixoto, Gabriel; Tomé, Luiz Marcelo Ribeiro; Fonseca, Paula Luize Camargos; Mendes-Pereira, Thairine; Araújo, Daniel Silva; Melo, Tarcisio Silva; Kato, Rodrigo Bentes; Delabie, Jacques Hubert Charles; Ribeiro, Sérvio Pontes; Brenig, Bertram; Azevedo, Vasco; Drechsler-Santos, Elisandro Ricardo; Andrade, Bruno Silva (January 2023). "Unraveling the Secrets of a Double-Life Fungus by Genomics: Ophiocordyceps australis CCMB661 Displays Molecular Machinery for Both Parasitic and Endophytic Lifestyles". Journal of Fungi. 9 (1): 110. doi:10.3390/jof9010110. ISSN 2309-608X. PMC 9864599. PMID 36675931.
  5. 1 2 3 Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 381–382. ISBN 978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC 797915861.
  6. ↑ Pilz des Jahres 2007: Cordyceps militaris (L.) Link, Puppenkernkeule
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "How a parasitic fungus turns ants into 'zombies'". Animals. 2019-04-18. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  8. 1 2 Lu, Yi; Zhi, Yuee; Miyakawa, Takuya; Tanokura, Masaru (2019-05-22). "Metabolic profiling of natural and cultured Cordyceps by NMR spectroscopy". Scientific Reports. 9 (1): 7735. Bibcode:2019NatSR...9.7735L. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-44154-x. PMC 6531489. PMID 31118439.
  9. ↑ "CN102626036A 一种蛹虫草子实体的规模化栽培方法和质量检测方法" [A method for large-scale cultivation of C. militaris fruiting bodies and quality testing thereof]. Google Patents (in Chinese). 2012-04-24.
  10. ↑ Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 379. ISBN 978-1-55407-651-2.
  11. ↑ "虫草花淮山杞子鸡汤". 心食谱.
  12. ↑ "Cordyceps militaris pork bone soup". Simple Chinese Food.
  13. ↑ Das, Shonkor Kumar; Masuda, Mina; Sakurai, Akihiko; Sakakibara, Mikio (2010). "Medicinal uses of the mushroom Cordyceps militaris: Current state and prospects". Fitoterapia. 81 (8): 961–968. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2010.07.010. PMID 20650308.
  14. ↑ Hubert, Flemming. "Hector". Hector's Cordyceps militaris research on dosage. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  15. 1 2 Bai, Ke-Chun; Sheu, Fuu (January 2018). "A novel protein from edible fungi Cordyceps militaris that induces apoptosis". Journal of Food and Drug Analysis. 26 (1): 21–30. doi:10.1016/j.jfda.2016.10.013. PMC 9332670. PMID 29389557.
  16. ↑ Ng, T B; Wang, H X (2010-02-18). "Pharmacological actions of Cordyceps , a prized folk medicine". Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 57 (12): 1509–1519. doi:10.1211/jpp.57.12.0001. ISSN 0022-3573. PMID 16354395. S2CID 35081231.
  17. ↑ Long, Liangkun; Liu, Zhen; Wang, Yizhou; Lin, Qunying; Ding, Shaojun; Li, Chuanhua; Deng, Chunying (2023-11-01). "High-level production of cordycepin by the xylose-utilising Cordyceps militaris strain 147 in an optimised medium". Bioresource Technology. 388: 129742. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129742. ISSN 0960-8524. PMID 37734485. S2CID 262125660.
  18. ↑ Muszyńska, Katarzyna Kała, Karol Jędrejko, Katarzyna Sułkowska-Ziaja, Bożena (2023), "Cordyceps militaris and its Applications", Bioprospects of Macrofungi, CRC Press, pp. 345–368, doi:10.1201/9781003343806-21, ISBN 978-1-003-34380-6, retrieved 2023-10-17{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ Phung Thi, Ly. "Cordyceps militaris". Chuyên trang nghiên cứu về đông trùng hạ thảo tự nhiên Việt Nam. Archived from the original on 2020-08-05.
  20. ↑ Sung, Gi-Ho; Nigel L. Hywel-Jones; Jae-Mo Sung; J. Jennifer Luangsa-ard; Bhushan Shrestha & Joseph W. Spatafora (2007). "Phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps and the clavicipitaceous fungi". Stud Mycol. 57 (1): 5–59. doi:10.3114/sim.2007.57.01. PMC 2104736. PMID 18490993.
  21. 1 2 Singh, Bhim; Lallawmsanga; Passari, Ajit (2018). Biology of Macrofungi. Fungal Biology (1 ed.). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland AG. pp. xviii+406+22 b/w ill.+43 colour. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-02622-6. eISSN 2198-7785. ISBN 978-3-030-02622-6. ISSN 2198-7777. S2CID 59223290.
  22. ↑ Tuli, Hardeep S.; Sharma, Anil K.; Sandhu, Sardul S.; Kashyap, Dharambir (2013). "Cordycepin: A bioactive metabolite with therapeutic potential". Life Sciences. Elsevier BV. 93 (23): 863–869. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2013.09.030. ISSN 0024-3205. PMID 24121015.
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