In the Garhwal of Uttarakhand, India, the Bhotiya, an ethnically and culturally distinct tribal group, were historically engaged in seasonal migration(i.e. transhumance) to take advantage of scarce mountain resources ...In the Garhwal of Uttarakhand, India, the Bhotiya, an ethnically and culturally distinct tribal group, were historically engaged in seasonal migration(i.e. transhumance) to take advantage of scarce mountain resources and trade relations with Tibet. This livelihood practice has all but disappeared.Households are adapting to these changing circumstances by engaging in the collection and sale of the valuable alpine medicinal fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, widely known as Cordyceps. The collection of this fungus has exploded, emerging as a lucrative yet high-risk livelihood strategy for many Bhotiya communities.The Bhotiyas' historic herding and trade-based interactions and knowledge of these alpine environments where Cordyceps are found uniquely positions them to access this valuable biological resource. Elsewhere in the Himalayan region, some households are earning as much as two-thirds of their income from the collection of Cordyceps; in China Cordyceps is now listed as an endangered species due to intense over-exploitation in the Tibetan Plateau.This paper seeks to fill the void in the scientific literature on the social, ecological and economic aspects of the emerging Cordyceps trade in the Garhwal. Our study investigates the socio-spatial dimensions of Cordyceps collection in the high alpine meadows. We document how a fusion of local knowledge and practice with alpine mountain systems has served to reinvigorate the economic integrity of mountain communities at a time of rapid socioeconomic change and to reimagine a new relationship between alpine resources and community well-being.The article offers suggestions to address the sustainability of both Cordyceps collection and livelihood activities which hinge on this fungus population. We find a need for(1) community-based conservation measures that are rooted in(2) secure resource access rights for local communities to continue sustainable collection and sale of Cordyceps and(3) participatory-and science-based processes for determining appropriate local collection numbers.展开更多
[Objectives] To investigate the characteristics of arsenic content of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Sichuan Province. [Methods]Using ICP-MS( Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry),we studied the 30 samples of O. s...[Objectives] To investigate the characteristics of arsenic content of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Sichuan Province. [Methods]Using ICP-MS( Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry),we studied the 30 samples of O. sinensis from 25 places of production in Sichuan Province as well as the arsenic content in the habitat soil. [Results] The arsenic content of O. sinensis in Sichuan Province was0. 62-9. 16 mg/kg; the arsenic content in habitat soil was 3. 93-59. 90 mg/kg. [Conclusions]90% of O. sinensis products from Sichuan Province exceeded the arsenic content limit of 1 mg/kg in the health food,and as a comparison,the arsenic content of samples from Qinghai,Tibet,Gansu was over the limit.展开更多
This study looked at comparison of chemical components and pharmacological activity between wild Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Paecilomyces hepiali. The chemical components investigated included amino acids, vitamins, d...This study looked at comparison of chemical components and pharmacological activity between wild Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Paecilomyces hepiali. The chemical components investigated included amino acids, vitamins, dietary elements, protein, lipid, ash, carbohydrates, crude fibre, ergosterol and mannitol. Studies on pharmacological activity included anti-platelet aggregation, inhibitory effect on IL-8 gene expression, anti-mutagenic activity, skin whitening effect and impro- vement activity on human skin texture. The results show that P. hepiali has a larger total content of seven essential amino acids (leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine) than O. sinensis, 8580 mg/100g and 6180 mg/100g respectively. The total content of dietary elements analysed (potassium, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium) was also higher in P. hepiali (3135 mg/100g) than that in O. sinensis (2445 mg/100g). The total content of four vitamins (B1, B2, B6 and E) was almost equal for both fungi. Paecilomyces hepiali had more content of protein, lipid, ash, carbohydrate, ergosterol and mannitol than O. sinensis. However, the contents of lipid and ash were not significantly different between the two fungi. The hot water extract of P. hepiali has been shown to have a number of pharmacological effects which include 1) inhibition of aggregation on human platelet, 2) inhibition of IL-8 gene expression, 3) anti-mutage- nic activity, 4) inhibition effect on production of melanin, and 5) improvement on human skin texture. Anti-platelet aggregation effects on human platelet, inhibition of IL-8 gene expression, anti-mutagenic activity and improvement effect on human skin texture were greater in P. hepiali treatments than that in wild O. sinensis.展开更多
Ophiocordyceps sinensis has been used as one of the most valuable traditional Chinese Medication. This fungus parasitizes larva of Hepialus armoricanus, and converts each larva into a sclerotium form, in which the fru...Ophiocordyceps sinensis has been used as one of the most valuable traditional Chinese Medication. This fungus parasitizes larva of Hepialus armoricanus, and converts each larva into a sclerotium form, in which the fruit body grows. Due to the geographical limitation, where O. sinensis can only be found in Himalayas region, the natural resources are limited and very expensive. This research aims to compare the growth-rate of O. sinensis mycelia with different ingredients mix with agar media using one-factor-at-a-time method. This research demonstrated the mycelial growth-rate with different carbon sources, including monosaccharide (Fructose, Glucose), disaccharide (Maltose, Sucrose), and polysaccharide (Dextrin, Malt extract), complex organic nitrogen sources, including beef extract, yeast extract, whey protein, and soy protein, and eight different carbon to nitrogen ratios. The objective of this research is to find out the suitable carbon and organic complex nitrogen sources and ratio for the O. sinensis solid cultivation. As results, O. sinensis grew best with disaccharides comparing to the other types of carbon sources. Furthermore, O. sinensis preferred whey protein in contrast to other organic complex nitrogen sources. As for the carbon to nitrogen ratios, an optimal ratio of 18:1 was observed. Based on those experiments, carbon source shows a greater influence for the mycelial growth. Hence many different types of grains and cereals would be great candidates as the main ingredients for the O. sinensis solid cultivation.展开更多
The exploration of the effects of pressure leads to new insights into the mycelial growth of Paecilomyces hepiali fungal strain. This strain has been generally accepted as true anamorph of wild Ophiocordyceps sinensis...The exploration of the effects of pressure leads to new insights into the mycelial growth of Paecilomyces hepiali fungal strain. This strain has been generally accepted as true anamorph of wild Ophiocordyceps sinensis. It is only found at high altitude area like Himalayan plateau where atmospheric pressure is very low. Most of researches about P. hepiali and artificial mycelial cultivation have been done around mean sea level pressure. Then new experimental set up was developed and described. The apparatus permitted growth of mycelia under different pressure levels while other micro environmental conditions were carefully controlled. Potato dextrose broth was used as liquid media. As solid and semi solid media, sorghum base media and potato dextrose agar were prepared. Results of mycelial growth under hypobaric pressures and hyperbaric pressure were compared with mycelial growth of atmospheric pressure and hence growth influence has been shown. Specially, -100 mmHg treated sample showed significantly highest growth in both solid media and semi solid media. In semi solid media, -100 mmHg was not significant with other reduced pressure treatments. Meanwhile, -150 mmHg treated samples showed significantly highest mycelial growth of liquid media and -150 mmHg of pressure adversely affected on water contents of solid growing media. This may be an effect of pressure on enzymatic activities, protein and fatty acid of plasma membrane. As well as, pressure changes equilibrium of biochemical reactions, bond of some molecules and partial pressure of air molecules. Further molecular and biochemical researches are required to evaluate the possible stimulation of mycelial growth through hypobaric and hyperbaric treatments.展开更多
Ophiocordyceps sinensis is well known as a traditional Chinese medicine and has widely been used for over 2,000 years to stimulate immune system, decrease blood pressure and to inhibit tumor growth. While miRNAs are i...Ophiocordyceps sinensis is well known as a traditional Chinese medicine and has widely been used for over 2,000 years to stimulate immune system, decrease blood pressure and to inhibit tumor growth. While miRNAs are increasingly recognized for their roles in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in animals and plants, miRNAs in fungi were less studied until the discovery of microRNA-like RNA(milRNA). High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics approaches were used to identify conserved and novel milRNAs in O. sinensis. 40 conserved milRNAs were identified, while 23 pre-miRNA candidates encoding 31 novel milRNAs were predicted. Furthermore, the potential target genes of milRNAs in human were predicted and gene ontology analysis was applied to these genes. Enrichment analysis of GO-represented biological process showed that target genes of both conserved and novel milRNAs are involved in development, metabolic and immune processes, indicating the potential roles of milRNAs of O. sinensis in pharmacological effects as health food and traditional Chinese medicine. This study is the first report on genome-wide analysis of milRNAs in O. sinensis and it provides a useful resource to further study the potential roles of milRNAs as active components of O. sinensis in health food or traditional Chinese medicine.展开更多
Objective To develop a rapid high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection （HPLC-DAD） method for the simultaneous determination of six polar compounds in Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Methods ...Objective To develop a rapid high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection （HPLC-DAD） method for the simultaneous determination of six polar compounds in Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Methods A poroshell SB Aq column （50 mm × 4.6 mm, 2.7 μm） and gradient elution were used; The detection wavelength of compounds was set at 260 nm. The chromatographic peaks of the six investigated compounds in sample were identified by comparing their retention times with reference compounds. Results All calibration curves showed good linearity （r〉 0.999） within the tested ranges. The intra- and inter-day precisions of the six analytes were less than 0.8% and 2.1%, respectively, and the recoveries of the six analytes were between 95% and 103%. The validated method was successfully applied to the determination of six polar compounds in O. sinensis samples. Conclusion The poroshell SB Aq column is suitable for the rapid analysis of polar components in Chinese materia medica on conventional HPLC system and the developed HPLC method is also helpful to the quality control of O. sinensis.展开更多
To accelerate the breeding process of cultivated Ophiocordyceps sinensis and increase its yield,it is important to identify molecular fingerprint of dominant O.sinensis.In the present study,we collected 3 batches of i...To accelerate the breeding process of cultivated Ophiocordyceps sinensis and increase its yield,it is important to identify molecular fingerprint of dominant O.sinensis.In the present study,we collected 3 batches of industrially cultivated O.sinensis product with higher yield than the others and compared their internal transcribed spacer(ITS)sequences with the wild and the reported.The ITS sequence was obtained by bidirectional sequencing and analyzed with molecular systematics as a DNA barcode for rapid and accurate identification of wild and cultivated O.sinensis collected.The ITS sequences of O.sinensis with detailed collection loci on NCBI were downloaded to construct a phylogenetic tree together with the sequences obtained from the present study by using neighbor-joining method based on their evolution relationship.The information on collection loci was analyzed with ArcGIS 10.2 to demonstrate the geographic distribution of these samples and thus to determine the origin of the dominant samples.The results showed that all wild and cultivated samples were identified as O.sinensis and all sequences were divided into seven phylogenetic groups in the tree.Those groups were precisely distributed on the map and the process of their system evolution was clearly presented.The three cultivated samples were clustered into two dominant groups,showing the correlation between the industrially cultivated samples and the dominant wild samples,which can provide references for its optimized breeding in the future.展开更多
Dear Editor,Chinese cordyceps, a valuable Chinese traditional medicine, is a complex of mummified ghost moth caterpillars and fungal stroma of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Winkler, 2010). O. sinensis has been nominated as...Dear Editor,Chinese cordyceps, a valuable Chinese traditional medicine, is a complex of mummified ghost moth caterpillars and fungal stroma of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Winkler, 2010). O. sinensis has been nominated as the national fungus of China and flagship species of the Tibetan Plateau (Cannon, 2010;Zhang et al., 2012).展开更多
For the reasonable and effective collection of Ophiocordyceps sinensis,a new method of on-site identification was attempted using a portable multispectral imaging(MSI)technique.Three dimensional(3D)data-cubes of repre...For the reasonable and effective collection of Ophiocordyceps sinensis,a new method of on-site identification was attempted using a portable multispectral imaging(MSI)technique.Three dimensional(3D)data-cubes of representative Ophiocordyceps sinensis and weeds samples were acquired and pre-processed with standard normal variate transformation(SNV).Principal component analysis(PCA)and simulated annealing particle swarm optimisation(SAPSO)algorithms were used to extract characteristic images and develop the support vector classification(SVC)models.Results show that the fused feature model of SAPSO-SVC has the best performance,resulting in a recognition accuracy of the prediction set of 96.30%.Moreover,on-site distribution map of Ophiocordyceps sinensis and weeds was created using the spectral feature model of SAPSO-SVC,and the target could be easily identified from the distribution map.This work demonstrates the potential for on-site identification of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau using a portable MSI technique combined with the SAPSO-SVC algorithm.展开更多
The gastrointestinal health is very important aspect concerning human health. It refers to nutrient and vitamin absorption, food digestion and various infectious diseases. The Paecilomyces hepiali and Cordyceps milita...The gastrointestinal health is very important aspect concerning human health. It refers to nutrient and vitamin absorption, food digestion and various infectious diseases. The Paecilomyces hepiali and Cordyceps militaris are highly enriched with cordycepin and ergosterol which are considered as anti bacterial substances. Present study finds out comparative effect of hot water extract of particular fungal material on growth of six species of gastrointestinal bacteria that belong to both aerobic and anaerobic and, consist with harmful and commensal categories. The appropriate concentration level of hot water extract of both strains was identified. The individual specific bacterial growing media were prepared and calculated;amounts of bacteria cultures were inoculated by using micro pipettes. The optical density and number of bacterial colonies were measured after 24 hours. The pure mycelial extract of P. hepiali with 2 × 10-3 g/ml of concentration has significant effect on depleting the growth of E. coli, E. faecalis, S. aureus, L. gasseri and B. ovatus bacteria. B. longum has no significant effect by particular extract. Same type of extract of C. militaris has significantly reduced the growth of every bacteria used in this study. Hot water extract of C. militaris cultivated on soy bean has significant growth retardation toward E. coli, E. faecalis, S. aureus and L. gasseri. It has stimulated the growth of B. ovatus and B. longum which are considered as beneficial bacteria for human gut. This study shows that extracts of both mycelia include antimicrobial substances like cordycepin and ergosterol which can be used as food supplements to enhance human gut health.展开更多
Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris both contain many bioactive compounds that confer potential therapeutic benefits. This review discusses the possible use of cultivated C. militaris as an effective subst...Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris both contain many bioactive compounds that confer potential therapeutic benefits. This review discusses the possible use of cultivated C. militaris as an effective substitute for native O. sinensis in the face of ever-increasing prices of O. sinensis because of its short supply. On the one hand, cultivated C. militaris contains higher levels of cordycepin when compared with that of wild-type O. sinensis and cultivation of C. militaris has been shown to be capable of reducing the risk of heavy metal contamination. On the other hand, there is a paucity of robust in vivo studies and randomized controlled tests comparing the pharmacology and use of C. militaris and O. sinensis. For extraction of cordycepin as western-style tablets, the use of cultivated C. militaris rather than O. sinensis represents the most appropriate future approach. For many other purposes, comparative pharmacology and clinical trials are in urgent needs.展开更多
This study examined ceramic beads as a reusable material for cultivation of edible mushrooms. There are 20 species of popular edible mushrooms in Japan all of which were tested. Within the cultivation vessels, 70% wer...This study examined ceramic beads as a reusable material for cultivation of edible mushrooms. There are 20 species of popular edible mushrooms in Japan all of which were tested. Within the cultivation vessels, 70% were ceramic beads (diameter 1 cm) and 30% of the nutrient solution. Moreover, the control groups used several types of sawdust, wheat bran, and rice bran with the ratio of 8:1:1 as the substrate. Two sets of substrates were evaluated with the fruit bodies yield. The result indicated that there were 11 species that responded well with the ceramic bead substrate when compared to the traditional sawdust substrate with Agrocybe cylindrica and Pleurotus ostreatus performed the best adding 70 g more of the fruit bodies. Conversely, nine species responded poorly with the ceramic beads substrate with Auricularia polytricha performed the worst losing 120 g. Ceramic beads as a reusable material for substrates not only provide a clean and controllable environment for mycelium to colonize but also deliver more aeration and water availability inside the cultivation vessels. The application of the ceramic bead cultivation can be viewed as an alternative solution for producing Ophiocordyceps sinensis on the industrial level.展开更多
In this study, effects of hot water extract of Paecilomyces hepiali mycelia on hypertension parameters in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were investigated. The tested parameters included blood pressure, blood a...In this study, effects of hot water extract of Paecilomyces hepiali mycelia on hypertension parameters in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were investigated. The tested parameters included blood pressure, blood and urine biochemical composition, renin and angiotensin II levels in the blood. Prior to these tests, the extract was examined for toxicity. The fungus was cultivated in a solid medium composed of 40 g brown rice, 0.32 g glucose, 0.65 g sucrose, 2 g peptone and 65 ml corn steep liquor. No abnormality or harmful effects were observed in the toxicity test. Administration of a continuous-dose, once daily, to SHR for 27 weeks (from 13 weeks of age) decreased the systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly. Levels of blood urea nitrogen, β-lipoprotein lipid peroxides and low density lipoprotein were significantly lower in the treated groups when compared to the control group. Urinary protein was significantly reduced in the middle and high dose groups. In comparison with the control group (0 mg/kg/10ml/day), significantly higher values were obtained for total cholesterol in groups that were given middle (170 mg/kg/10ml/day) and high (250 mg/kg/10ml/day) dosages. In all dosages (low, middle and high) the values for triglyceride were significantly higher than value found in the control group. In terms of angiotensin II levels, the value in the control group was markedly higher than values in the other groups. The results suggest that oral administration of hot water extract of P. hepiali mycelia has ability to control hypertension in rats.展开更多
Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.Despite the challenges in managing atherosclerosis,researchers continue to investigate new treatments and complementary therapies.Cordyceps is a ...Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.Despite the challenges in managing atherosclerosis,researchers continue to investigate new treatments and complementary therapies.Cordyceps is a traditional Chinese medicine that has recently gained attention as a potential therapeutic agent for atherosclerosis.Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of cordyceps in treating atherosclerosis through various pharmacological actions,including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities,lowering cholesterol,inhibiting platelet aggregation,and modulating apoptosis or autophagy in vascular endothelial cells.Notably,the current misuse of the terms cordyceps and Ophiocordyceps sinensis has caused confusion among researchers,and complicated the current academic research on cordyceps.This review focuses on the chemical composition,pharmacological actions,and underlying mechanisms contributing to the anti-atherosclerotic effects of cordyceps and the mycelium of Ophiocordyceps spp.This review provides a resource for the research on the development of new drugs for atherosclerosis from cordyceps.展开更多
Clavicipitoid fungi comprise three families,namely Clavicipitaceae,Cordycipitaceae,and Ophiocordycipitaceae.They are found worldwide and are specialized pathogens of invertebrate,plant and fungal hosts.Over the last d...Clavicipitoid fungi comprise three families,namely Clavicipitaceae,Cordycipitaceae,and Ophiocordycipitaceae.They are found worldwide and are specialized pathogens of invertebrate,plant and fungal hosts.Over the last decade,morphology-and phylogeny-based studies on clavicipitoid fungi have increased.The latter have revealed that Polycephalomyces,Perennicordyceps and Pleurocordyceps consistently cluster together.These genera are currently considered as members of Ophiocordycipitaceae.Nonetheless,information with regard to their diversity and ecology remains sparse.To fill this gap,we collected 29 fresh specimens from insect and fungal substrates from tropical and subtropical evergreen forests in Thailand and southwestern China.We performed detailed morphological analyses and constructed photoplates for all isolated fungi.We used extensive taxon sampling and a dataset comprising internal transcribed spacer gene region(ITS),small subunit ribosomal RNA gene region(SSU),large subunit rRNA gene region(LSU),translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene region(TEF-1α),RNA polymerase II largest subunit gene region(RPB1)and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit(RPB2)to infer order-,family and genus-level phylogenetic trees.Based on these biphasic analyses,we segregate Polycephalomyces,Perennicordyceps,and Pleurocordyceps from Ophiocordycipitaceae and introduce the new family Polycephalomycetaceae to accomodate these three genera.The majority of species in this family have a vast range of insect and fungal hosts.The sexual morph of Polycephalomycetaceae has stromatic ascomata,long stipes,thick peridium,and cylindrical secondary spores.The asexual morph is characterized by colonies on the host surface or synnemata with stipes on the host,one or two types of phialides,and cylindrical to fusiform conidia.We expand the number of taxa in the new family by introducing seven new species(Polycephalomyces albiramus,Perennicordyceps lutea,Pleurocordyceps parvicapitata,Pleurocordyceps lanceolatus,Pleurocordyceps nutansis,Pleurocordyceps heilongtanensis,Pleurocordyceps vitellina),nine new hosts,and one new combination(Perennicordyceps elaphomyceticola).The results herein hint at a high level of diversity for Polycephalomycetaceae.Future investigations focusing on obtaining additional collections and specimens from different geographical areas would help to reveal not only the extent of the group’s diversity,but also resolve its deeper phylogenetic placement.展开更多
To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), thereby meet the post 2020 global biodiversity targets and increase resilience to climate change, nature-based approaches such as ecosystem-based adaptation(EbA) is ...To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), thereby meet the post 2020 global biodiversity targets and increase resilience to climate change, nature-based approaches such as ecosystem-based adaptation(EbA) is suggested as a promising and integrated adaptation strategy. EbA comprises adaptation strategies that value the role of ecosystems in reducing social vulnerability to climate change. Among the different biological groups on earth, fungi play not only an important role to maintain the biogeochemical cycle/nutrient cycle in ecosystems(supporting and regulating services), but also contribute to the socio-economic and cultural benefits of societies(provisioning and cultural services). Here, we present our knowledge and scientific understanding on how these neglected groups of biodiversity-fungi are crucial for ecosystem-based adaptation(EbA) approach based on our field experience, review and associated expertise on caterpillar fungus(Ophiocordyceps sinensis), and other wild mushrooms found in Nepal. Several species of fungi are used by local communities as food, medicines, and environmental income. Fungi are important sources of household income for mountain communities in Nepal providing a cushion during shocks and disasters and supporting food security, health care, education and building shelter. For the holistic EbA approach, it is essential to strengthen local institutions as well as indigenous local knowledge which could be an important policy intervention for the identification, conservation, and sustainable management of ecologically, socially and economically useful fungal species.展开更多
基金funded in part by the College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana,MissoulaThe logistical support and research assistance provided by the Mountain Shepherds Initiative and the Nanda Devi Campaign based in Uttarakhand were paramount
文摘In the Garhwal of Uttarakhand, India, the Bhotiya, an ethnically and culturally distinct tribal group, were historically engaged in seasonal migration(i.e. transhumance) to take advantage of scarce mountain resources and trade relations with Tibet. This livelihood practice has all but disappeared.Households are adapting to these changing circumstances by engaging in the collection and sale of the valuable alpine medicinal fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, widely known as Cordyceps. The collection of this fungus has exploded, emerging as a lucrative yet high-risk livelihood strategy for many Bhotiya communities.The Bhotiyas' historic herding and trade-based interactions and knowledge of these alpine environments where Cordyceps are found uniquely positions them to access this valuable biological resource. Elsewhere in the Himalayan region, some households are earning as much as two-thirds of their income from the collection of Cordyceps; in China Cordyceps is now listed as an endangered species due to intense over-exploitation in the Tibetan Plateau.This paper seeks to fill the void in the scientific literature on the social, ecological and economic aspects of the emerging Cordyceps trade in the Garhwal. Our study investigates the socio-spatial dimensions of Cordyceps collection in the high alpine meadows. We document how a fusion of local knowledge and practice with alpine mountain systems has served to reinvigorate the economic integrity of mountain communities at a time of rapid socioeconomic change and to reimagine a new relationship between alpine resources and community well-being.The article offers suggestions to address the sustainability of both Cordyceps collection and livelihood activities which hinge on this fungus population. We find a need for(1) community-based conservation measures that are rooted in(2) secure resource access rights for local communities to continue sustainable collection and sale of Cordyceps and(3) participatory-and science-based processes for determining appropriate local collection numbers.
基金Supported by Special Fiscal Funds in Sichuan Province(ZL2017-06)
文摘[Objectives] To investigate the characteristics of arsenic content of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Sichuan Province. [Methods]Using ICP-MS( Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry),we studied the 30 samples of O. sinensis from 25 places of production in Sichuan Province as well as the arsenic content in the habitat soil. [Results] The arsenic content of O. sinensis in Sichuan Province was0. 62-9. 16 mg/kg; the arsenic content in habitat soil was 3. 93-59. 90 mg/kg. [Conclusions]90% of O. sinensis products from Sichuan Province exceeded the arsenic content limit of 1 mg/kg in the health food,and as a comparison,the arsenic content of samples from Qinghai,Tibet,Gansu was over the limit.
文摘This study looked at comparison of chemical components and pharmacological activity between wild Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Paecilomyces hepiali. The chemical components investigated included amino acids, vitamins, dietary elements, protein, lipid, ash, carbohydrates, crude fibre, ergosterol and mannitol. Studies on pharmacological activity included anti-platelet aggregation, inhibitory effect on IL-8 gene expression, anti-mutagenic activity, skin whitening effect and impro- vement activity on human skin texture. The results show that P. hepiali has a larger total content of seven essential amino acids (leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine) than O. sinensis, 8580 mg/100g and 6180 mg/100g respectively. The total content of dietary elements analysed (potassium, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium) was also higher in P. hepiali (3135 mg/100g) than that in O. sinensis (2445 mg/100g). The total content of four vitamins (B1, B2, B6 and E) was almost equal for both fungi. Paecilomyces hepiali had more content of protein, lipid, ash, carbohydrate, ergosterol and mannitol than O. sinensis. However, the contents of lipid and ash were not significantly different between the two fungi. The hot water extract of P. hepiali has been shown to have a number of pharmacological effects which include 1) inhibition of aggregation on human platelet, 2) inhibition of IL-8 gene expression, 3) anti-mutage- nic activity, 4) inhibition effect on production of melanin, and 5) improvement on human skin texture. Anti-platelet aggregation effects on human platelet, inhibition of IL-8 gene expression, anti-mutagenic activity and improvement effect on human skin texture were greater in P. hepiali treatments than that in wild O. sinensis.
文摘Ophiocordyceps sinensis has been used as one of the most valuable traditional Chinese Medication. This fungus parasitizes larva of Hepialus armoricanus, and converts each larva into a sclerotium form, in which the fruit body grows. Due to the geographical limitation, where O. sinensis can only be found in Himalayas region, the natural resources are limited and very expensive. This research aims to compare the growth-rate of O. sinensis mycelia with different ingredients mix with agar media using one-factor-at-a-time method. This research demonstrated the mycelial growth-rate with different carbon sources, including monosaccharide (Fructose, Glucose), disaccharide (Maltose, Sucrose), and polysaccharide (Dextrin, Malt extract), complex organic nitrogen sources, including beef extract, yeast extract, whey protein, and soy protein, and eight different carbon to nitrogen ratios. The objective of this research is to find out the suitable carbon and organic complex nitrogen sources and ratio for the O. sinensis solid cultivation. As results, O. sinensis grew best with disaccharides comparing to the other types of carbon sources. Furthermore, O. sinensis preferred whey protein in contrast to other organic complex nitrogen sources. As for the carbon to nitrogen ratios, an optimal ratio of 18:1 was observed. Based on those experiments, carbon source shows a greater influence for the mycelial growth. Hence many different types of grains and cereals would be great candidates as the main ingredients for the O. sinensis solid cultivation.
文摘The exploration of the effects of pressure leads to new insights into the mycelial growth of Paecilomyces hepiali fungal strain. This strain has been generally accepted as true anamorph of wild Ophiocordyceps sinensis. It is only found at high altitude area like Himalayan plateau where atmospheric pressure is very low. Most of researches about P. hepiali and artificial mycelial cultivation have been done around mean sea level pressure. Then new experimental set up was developed and described. The apparatus permitted growth of mycelia under different pressure levels while other micro environmental conditions were carefully controlled. Potato dextrose broth was used as liquid media. As solid and semi solid media, sorghum base media and potato dextrose agar were prepared. Results of mycelial growth under hypobaric pressures and hyperbaric pressure were compared with mycelial growth of atmospheric pressure and hence growth influence has been shown. Specially, -100 mmHg treated sample showed significantly highest growth in both solid media and semi solid media. In semi solid media, -100 mmHg was not significant with other reduced pressure treatments. Meanwhile, -150 mmHg treated samples showed significantly highest mycelial growth of liquid media and -150 mmHg of pressure adversely affected on water contents of solid growing media. This may be an effect of pressure on enzymatic activities, protein and fatty acid of plasma membrane. As well as, pressure changes equilibrium of biochemical reactions, bond of some molecules and partial pressure of air molecules. Further molecular and biochemical researches are required to evaluate the possible stimulation of mycelial growth through hypobaric and hyperbaric treatments.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2014CB542300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81602697)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BE2016737) the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (020814380070)
文摘Ophiocordyceps sinensis is well known as a traditional Chinese medicine and has widely been used for over 2,000 years to stimulate immune system, decrease blood pressure and to inhibit tumor growth. While miRNAs are increasingly recognized for their roles in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in animals and plants, miRNAs in fungi were less studied until the discovery of microRNA-like RNA(milRNA). High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics approaches were used to identify conserved and novel milRNAs in O. sinensis. 40 conserved milRNAs were identified, while 23 pre-miRNA candidates encoding 31 novel milRNAs were predicted. Furthermore, the potential target genes of milRNAs in human were predicted and gene ontology analysis was applied to these genes. Enrichment analysis of GO-represented biological process showed that target genes of both conserved and novel milRNAs are involved in development, metabolic and immune processes, indicating the potential roles of milRNAs of O. sinensis in pharmacological effects as health food and traditional Chinese medicine. This study is the first report on genome-wide analysis of milRNAs in O. sinensis and it provides a useful resource to further study the potential roles of milRNAs as active components of O. sinensis in health food or traditional Chinese medicine.
基金The Projects of Major Science and Technology Innovation of Hubei Province(2013ACD009)
文摘Objective To develop a rapid high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection （HPLC-DAD） method for the simultaneous determination of six polar compounds in Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Methods A poroshell SB Aq column （50 mm × 4.6 mm, 2.7 μm） and gradient elution were used; The detection wavelength of compounds was set at 260 nm. The chromatographic peaks of the six investigated compounds in sample were identified by comparing their retention times with reference compounds. Results All calibration curves showed good linearity （r〉 0.999） within the tested ranges. The intra- and inter-day precisions of the six analytes were less than 0.8% and 2.1%, respectively, and the recoveries of the six analytes were between 95% and 103%. The validated method was successfully applied to the determination of six polar compounds in O. sinensis samples. Conclusion The poroshell SB Aq column is suitable for the rapid analysis of polar components in Chinese materia medica on conventional HPLC system and the developed HPLC method is also helpful to the quality control of O. sinensis.
基金supported by the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund(No.062/2017/A2)
文摘To accelerate the breeding process of cultivated Ophiocordyceps sinensis and increase its yield,it is important to identify molecular fingerprint of dominant O.sinensis.In the present study,we collected 3 batches of industrially cultivated O.sinensis product with higher yield than the others and compared their internal transcribed spacer(ITS)sequences with the wild and the reported.The ITS sequence was obtained by bidirectional sequencing and analyzed with molecular systematics as a DNA barcode for rapid and accurate identification of wild and cultivated O.sinensis collected.The ITS sequences of O.sinensis with detailed collection loci on NCBI were downloaded to construct a phylogenetic tree together with the sequences obtained from the present study by using neighbor-joining method based on their evolution relationship.The information on collection loci was analyzed with ArcGIS 10.2 to demonstrate the geographic distribution of these samples and thus to determine the origin of the dominant samples.The results showed that all wild and cultivated samples were identified as O.sinensis and all sequences were divided into seven phylogenetic groups in the tree.Those groups were precisely distributed on the map and the process of their system evolution was clearly presented.The three cultivated samples were clustered into two dominant groups,showing the correlation between the industrially cultivated samples and the dominant wild samples,which can provide references for its optimized breeding in the future.
基金supported by the Promotion and Protection Project of Chinese Herbal Medicine by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China。
文摘Dear Editor,Chinese cordyceps, a valuable Chinese traditional medicine, is a complex of mummified ghost moth caterpillars and fungal stroma of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Winkler, 2010). O. sinensis has been nominated as the national fungus of China and flagship species of the Tibetan Plateau (Cannon, 2010;Zhang et al., 2012).
基金This work was funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2017TC016)and the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFE0112800).
文摘For the reasonable and effective collection of Ophiocordyceps sinensis,a new method of on-site identification was attempted using a portable multispectral imaging(MSI)technique.Three dimensional(3D)data-cubes of representative Ophiocordyceps sinensis and weeds samples were acquired and pre-processed with standard normal variate transformation(SNV).Principal component analysis(PCA)and simulated annealing particle swarm optimisation(SAPSO)algorithms were used to extract characteristic images and develop the support vector classification(SVC)models.Results show that the fused feature model of SAPSO-SVC has the best performance,resulting in a recognition accuracy of the prediction set of 96.30%.Moreover,on-site distribution map of Ophiocordyceps sinensis and weeds was created using the spectral feature model of SAPSO-SVC,and the target could be easily identified from the distribution map.This work demonstrates the potential for on-site identification of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau using a portable MSI technique combined with the SAPSO-SVC algorithm.
文摘The gastrointestinal health is very important aspect concerning human health. It refers to nutrient and vitamin absorption, food digestion and various infectious diseases. The Paecilomyces hepiali and Cordyceps militaris are highly enriched with cordycepin and ergosterol which are considered as anti bacterial substances. Present study finds out comparative effect of hot water extract of particular fungal material on growth of six species of gastrointestinal bacteria that belong to both aerobic and anaerobic and, consist with harmful and commensal categories. The appropriate concentration level of hot water extract of both strains was identified. The individual specific bacterial growing media were prepared and calculated;amounts of bacteria cultures were inoculated by using micro pipettes. The optical density and number of bacterial colonies were measured after 24 hours. The pure mycelial extract of P. hepiali with 2 × 10-3 g/ml of concentration has significant effect on depleting the growth of E. coli, E. faecalis, S. aureus, L. gasseri and B. ovatus bacteria. B. longum has no significant effect by particular extract. Same type of extract of C. militaris has significantly reduced the growth of every bacteria used in this study. Hot water extract of C. militaris cultivated on soy bean has significant growth retardation toward E. coli, E. faecalis, S. aureus and L. gasseri. It has stimulated the growth of B. ovatus and B. longum which are considered as beneficial bacteria for human gut. This study shows that extracts of both mycelia include antimicrobial substances like cordycepin and ergosterol which can be used as food supplements to enhance human gut health.
文摘Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris both contain many bioactive compounds that confer potential therapeutic benefits. This review discusses the possible use of cultivated C. militaris as an effective substitute for native O. sinensis in the face of ever-increasing prices of O. sinensis because of its short supply. On the one hand, cultivated C. militaris contains higher levels of cordycepin when compared with that of wild-type O. sinensis and cultivation of C. militaris has been shown to be capable of reducing the risk of heavy metal contamination. On the other hand, there is a paucity of robust in vivo studies and randomized controlled tests comparing the pharmacology and use of C. militaris and O. sinensis. For extraction of cordycepin as western-style tablets, the use of cultivated C. militaris rather than O. sinensis represents the most appropriate future approach. For many other purposes, comparative pharmacology and clinical trials are in urgent needs.
文摘This study examined ceramic beads as a reusable material for cultivation of edible mushrooms. There are 20 species of popular edible mushrooms in Japan all of which were tested. Within the cultivation vessels, 70% were ceramic beads (diameter 1 cm) and 30% of the nutrient solution. Moreover, the control groups used several types of sawdust, wheat bran, and rice bran with the ratio of 8:1:1 as the substrate. Two sets of substrates were evaluated with the fruit bodies yield. The result indicated that there were 11 species that responded well with the ceramic bead substrate when compared to the traditional sawdust substrate with Agrocybe cylindrica and Pleurotus ostreatus performed the best adding 70 g more of the fruit bodies. Conversely, nine species responded poorly with the ceramic beads substrate with Auricularia polytricha performed the worst losing 120 g. Ceramic beads as a reusable material for substrates not only provide a clean and controllable environment for mycelium to colonize but also deliver more aeration and water availability inside the cultivation vessels. The application of the ceramic bead cultivation can be viewed as an alternative solution for producing Ophiocordyceps sinensis on the industrial level.
文摘In this study, effects of hot water extract of Paecilomyces hepiali mycelia on hypertension parameters in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were investigated. The tested parameters included blood pressure, blood and urine biochemical composition, renin and angiotensin II levels in the blood. Prior to these tests, the extract was examined for toxicity. The fungus was cultivated in a solid medium composed of 40 g brown rice, 0.32 g glucose, 0.65 g sucrose, 2 g peptone and 65 ml corn steep liquor. No abnormality or harmful effects were observed in the toxicity test. Administration of a continuous-dose, once daily, to SHR for 27 weeks (from 13 weeks of age) decreased the systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly. Levels of blood urea nitrogen, β-lipoprotein lipid peroxides and low density lipoprotein were significantly lower in the treated groups when compared to the control group. Urinary protein was significantly reduced in the middle and high dose groups. In comparison with the control group (0 mg/kg/10ml/day), significantly higher values were obtained for total cholesterol in groups that were given middle (170 mg/kg/10ml/day) and high (250 mg/kg/10ml/day) dosages. In all dosages (low, middle and high) the values for triglyceride were significantly higher than value found in the control group. In terms of angiotensin II levels, the value in the control group was markedly higher than values in the other groups. The results suggest that oral administration of hot water extract of P. hepiali mycelia has ability to control hypertension in rats.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province(No.23NSFSC3163 and 2022NSFSC0733)the“Xinglin Scholar”Talent Research Promotion Plan of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(No.MPRC2021020 and MPRC2021019)。
文摘Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.Despite the challenges in managing atherosclerosis,researchers continue to investigate new treatments and complementary therapies.Cordyceps is a traditional Chinese medicine that has recently gained attention as a potential therapeutic agent for atherosclerosis.Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of cordyceps in treating atherosclerosis through various pharmacological actions,including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities,lowering cholesterol,inhibiting platelet aggregation,and modulating apoptosis or autophagy in vascular endothelial cells.Notably,the current misuse of the terms cordyceps and Ophiocordyceps sinensis has caused confusion among researchers,and complicated the current academic research on cordyceps.This review focuses on the chemical composition,pharmacological actions,and underlying mechanisms contributing to the anti-atherosclerotic effects of cordyceps and the mycelium of Ophiocordyceps spp.This review provides a resource for the research on the development of new drugs for atherosclerosis from cordyceps.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31760014,31760011,32060007,32072645)the Science and Technology Foundation of Guizhou Province(No.[2019]2451-3)+1 种基金Macrofungi diversity research from the Lancang-Mekong Watershed and Surrounding areas(Grant No.DBG6280009)the Science and Technology Planning Project of Yunnan Province(No.202207AB110016).
文摘Clavicipitoid fungi comprise three families,namely Clavicipitaceae,Cordycipitaceae,and Ophiocordycipitaceae.They are found worldwide and are specialized pathogens of invertebrate,plant and fungal hosts.Over the last decade,morphology-and phylogeny-based studies on clavicipitoid fungi have increased.The latter have revealed that Polycephalomyces,Perennicordyceps and Pleurocordyceps consistently cluster together.These genera are currently considered as members of Ophiocordycipitaceae.Nonetheless,information with regard to their diversity and ecology remains sparse.To fill this gap,we collected 29 fresh specimens from insect and fungal substrates from tropical and subtropical evergreen forests in Thailand and southwestern China.We performed detailed morphological analyses and constructed photoplates for all isolated fungi.We used extensive taxon sampling and a dataset comprising internal transcribed spacer gene region(ITS),small subunit ribosomal RNA gene region(SSU),large subunit rRNA gene region(LSU),translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene region(TEF-1α),RNA polymerase II largest subunit gene region(RPB1)and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit(RPB2)to infer order-,family and genus-level phylogenetic trees.Based on these biphasic analyses,we segregate Polycephalomyces,Perennicordyceps,and Pleurocordyceps from Ophiocordycipitaceae and introduce the new family Polycephalomycetaceae to accomodate these three genera.The majority of species in this family have a vast range of insect and fungal hosts.The sexual morph of Polycephalomycetaceae has stromatic ascomata,long stipes,thick peridium,and cylindrical secondary spores.The asexual morph is characterized by colonies on the host surface or synnemata with stipes on the host,one or two types of phialides,and cylindrical to fusiform conidia.We expand the number of taxa in the new family by introducing seven new species(Polycephalomyces albiramus,Perennicordyceps lutea,Pleurocordyceps parvicapitata,Pleurocordyceps lanceolatus,Pleurocordyceps nutansis,Pleurocordyceps heilongtanensis,Pleurocordyceps vitellina),nine new hosts,and one new combination(Perennicordyceps elaphomyceticola).The results herein hint at a high level of diversity for Polycephalomycetaceae.Future investigations focusing on obtaining additional collections and specimens from different geographical areas would help to reveal not only the extent of the group’s diversity,but also resolve its deeper phylogenetic placement.
基金The Global Biodiversity Information Facility/Biodiversity Fund for Asia (BIFA5_023 to SD)The Rufford Foundation (25337-1 to SD)The National Geographic Society (NGS-62058R-19 to UBS)。
文摘To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), thereby meet the post 2020 global biodiversity targets and increase resilience to climate change, nature-based approaches such as ecosystem-based adaptation(EbA) is suggested as a promising and integrated adaptation strategy. EbA comprises adaptation strategies that value the role of ecosystems in reducing social vulnerability to climate change. Among the different biological groups on earth, fungi play not only an important role to maintain the biogeochemical cycle/nutrient cycle in ecosystems(supporting and regulating services), but also contribute to the socio-economic and cultural benefits of societies(provisioning and cultural services). Here, we present our knowledge and scientific understanding on how these neglected groups of biodiversity-fungi are crucial for ecosystem-based adaptation(EbA) approach based on our field experience, review and associated expertise on caterpillar fungus(Ophiocordyceps sinensis), and other wild mushrooms found in Nepal. Several species of fungi are used by local communities as food, medicines, and environmental income. Fungi are important sources of household income for mountain communities in Nepal providing a cushion during shocks and disasters and supporting food security, health care, education and building shelter. For the holistic EbA approach, it is essential to strengthen local institutions as well as indigenous local knowledge which could be an important policy intervention for the identification, conservation, and sustainable management of ecologically, socially and economically useful fungal species.
