Medium optimization for polysaccharide production of Cordyceps sinensis

As a potential anticarcinogenic agent, polysaccharides from Cordyceps sinensis have been demonstrated to possess strong antioxidation activity. The aim of the present research was to study the optimal medium to produce polysaccharides of C. sinensis by using response surface methodology (RSM). The composition of optimized medium for polysaccharide production calculated from the regression model of RSM was 6.17% sucrose, 0.53% corn steep powder, 0.5% (NH4)2HPO4, and 0.15% KH2PO4 at pH 4.44, with a predicted maximum polysaccharide production of 3.17 g/L. When applying this optimal medium, the maximum polysaccharide production was 3.05 and 3.21 g/L in a shake flask and a 5-L jar fermentor, respectively. When the pH was controlled at a higher level such as pH 5.0, both cell growth and polysaccharide production were inhibited. A low pH of 2.85 was required for maximum production of polysaccharides.