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Cordyceps militaris

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

Cordyceps militaris, commonly known as the caterpillar fungus,[1] is a species of fungus in the family Cordycipitaceae, and the type species of the genus Cordyceps, which consists of hundreds of species.[2] The species was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Clavaria militaris.[3] Cordyceps militaris parasitizes insects and is used in traditional Chinese medicine and modern pharmaceuticals.

Description

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The fungus forms 1–8 centimetres (1⁄2–3+1⁄4 in) high, club-shaped[4] 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

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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.

Similar species

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Cordyceps in the wild has more than 400 different species.[5] Similar species include Cordyceps sobolifera, Elaphocordyceps capitata, and Elaphocordyceps ophioglossoides.[4]

Distribution and habitat

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

Uses

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Cordyceps militaris
View the Mycomorphbox template that generates the following list
Smooth hymenium
No distinct cap
Hymenium attachment is irregular or not applicable
Stipe is bare
Ecology is parasitic
Edibility is edible or inedible
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.[7][8] It is considered inedible or "probably edible" by North American field guides.[9][4] In Asia the fruiting body is cooked as a mushroom in dishes like chicken soup,[10] pork bone soup[11] and hot pot.

C. militaris crops can be affected by pathogenic molds that parasitize and kill the fungus.[12][13]

Research

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Cordyceps militaris is well known within the realm of traditional Chinese medicine.[14] Its anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-aging properties have been well documented.[14] However, more thorough clinical trials of the fungus are difficult to construct, due to the biological complexity of the fungus.[14] The medicinal properties of C. militaris can be attributed to a number of chemicals within the fungi, including cordycepin, cordymin, and many other extracts.[15] Cordycepin is especially important, with current research investigating ways to expedite the production of the chemical within cordyceps.[16]

C. militaris is a potential carrier of bio-metabolites for herbal drugs. Traditional medicine systems believe it "revitalizes" various systems of the body.[17] In traditional Chinese medicine, this fungus can serve as a cheap substitute for Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Both contain cordycepin.[7] 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.[18]

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.[19]

The effects of C. militaris on general health is predicted to land it a substantial position in both medicinal areas as well as everyday diets.[20]

Chemistry

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Bai & Sheu 2018 found a new protein causing apoptosis.[19][21]: 22  Song et al., 2009 finds microwave-assisted extraction to be a good technique for polysaccharide extraction from this fungus.[21]: 196 

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

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  1. ^ Arora, David (1979). Mushrooms demystified: a comprehensive guide to the fleshy fungi of the central California coast. Berkeley, Calif: Ten Speed Press. ISBN 978-0-89815-010-0.
  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. ^ "GSD Species Synonymy: Cordyceps militaris (L.) Fr". Species Fungorum. CAB International. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  4. ^ a b c 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Pilz des Jahres 2007: Cordyceps militaris (L.) Link, Puppenkernkeule
  7. ^ a b 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.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 379. ISBN 978-1-55407-651-2.
  10. ^ "虫草花淮山杞子鸡汤". 心食谱.
  11. ^ "Cordyceps militaris pork bone soup". Simple Chinese Food.
  12. ^ Nguyen, Trung Thanh; Le, Thi Nguyen-Gia; Nguyen, Thuan Huy (17 October 2023). "First report of emerging fungal pathogens of Cordyceps militaris in Vietnam". Scientific Reports. 13 (1). doi:10.1038/s41598-023-43951-9.
  13. ^ Peng, Huanhuan; Cong, Yunlong; Zhao, Yitong; Liu, Zhenghui; Li, Yu (October 2024). "Trichoderma gamsii, a new pathogen causing disease on cultivated mushroom Cordyceps militaris in China". Crop Protection. 184: 106864. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2024.106864. preprint
  14. ^ a b c 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Hubert, Flemming. "Hector". Hector's Cordyceps militaris research on dosage. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  19. ^ a b 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.
  20. ^ 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)
  21. ^ a b 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. 93 (23). Elsevier BV: 863–869. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2013.09.030. ISSN 0024-3205. PMID 24121015.
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