Strain Evaluation and Multi-Generational Stability of Cordyceps militaris for Functional Bioactive Compound...

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Pharmacology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Cordyceps militaris is a medicinal fungus producing valuable bioactive compounds like cordycepin, adenosine, and polysaccharides.
• These compounds possess antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anticancer properties, crucial for therapeutic development.
• Optimizing production and ensuring genetic stability of these metabolites are key challenges in C. militaris research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate growth, metabolite yield, antioxidant activity, and genetic stability of 20 Cordyceps militaris strains.
• To identify high-performing and genetically stable C. militaris strains for pharmaceutical applications.
• To assess the potential of selected strains for large-scale cultivation and bioactive compound production.

Main Methods:

• Cultivation and analysis of 20 C. militaris strains for growth characteristics and metabolite content.
• Assessment of antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay.
• Monitoring genetic stability over five generations using MAT gene profiling.

Main Results:

• Strain KTDT8 exhibited superior performance, yielding the highest cordycepin, adenosine, and polysaccharide levels.
• KTDT8 demonstrated the strongest antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 31.2 μg/mL).
• The strain maintained morphological and genetic stability through four generations, with a slight decline in the fifth.

Conclusions:

• Strain KTDT8 is a high-yielding, genetically stable Cordyceps militaris candidate with significant antioxidant properties.
• Its consistent performance supports its viability for long-term cultivation and bioactive compound production.
• KTDT8 shows strong potential for large-scale pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.