Distribution of nucleosides in populations of Cordyceps cicadae

Multi-omics reveals the testosterone promotion effect mechanism of Cordyceps Sobolifera on Leydig cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cordyceps sobolifera (CS) has been traditionally utilized as an ethnic remedy for various health conditions, including chronic kidney diseases, anti-fatigue interventions, and management of chronic inflammation. Notably, CS is recognized for its substantial content of bioactive compounds, among which nucleosides prominently feature as constituents with diverse therapeutic advantages.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to investigate the effects of CS on testosterone secretion in Leydig cells and explore the underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Leydig cells were isolated from rat testes to establish a primary rat Leydig cells model. Cell proliferation and testosterone secretion were assessed via the methyl-piperidino-pyrazole (MTT) assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Samples earmarked for RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis facilitated the identification of significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and we conducted Gene Ontology (GO)/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional annotation and enrichment analyses. The veracity of our findings was validated through quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting.

RESULTS

The results showed that CS and guanosine could promote Leydig cell proliferation and bolster testosterone secretion. Our integrative analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics has unveiled the potential mechanisms governing testosterone synthesis. Specifically, metabolomics has illuminated striking correlations within cholesterol metabolism, and bile secretion. Concurrently, transcriptomics has underscored the pivotal roles played by the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Furthermore, our investigation has demonstrated CS's aptitude in elevating the expression of proteins and genes. Notably, our findings have elucidated that these effects can be mitigated by protein kinase A (PKA) and adenylate cyclase (AC) specific inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

This study delineates the cAMP-PKA pathways as plausible mechanisms underpinning the testosterone-enhancing properties of CS, with guanosine emerging as a fundamental bioactive constituent.

Filtration effect of Cordyceps chanhua mycoderm on bacteria and its transport function on nitrogen

IMPORTANCE

During the natural growth of Cordyceps chanhua, it will form a mycoderm structure specialized from hyphae. We found that the bacterial membrane of C. chanhua not only filters environmental bacteria but also absorbs and transports nitrogen elements inside and outside the body of C. chanhua. These findings are of great significance for understanding the stable mechanism of the internal microbial community maintained by C. chanhua and how C. chanhua maintains its own nutritional balance. In addition, this study also enriched our understanding of the differences in bacterial community composition and related bacterial community functions of C. chanhua at different growth stages, which is of great value for understanding the environmental adaptation mechanism, the element distribution network, and the changing process of symbiotic microbial system after Cordyceps fungi infected the host. At the same time, it can also provide a theoretical basis for some important ecological imitation cultivation technology of Cordyceps fungi.

Bioactive compounds from Cordyceps and their therapeutic potential

The Clavicipitaceae family's largest and most diverse genus is Cordyceps. They are most abundant and diverse in humid temperate and tropical forests and have a wide distribution in: Europe, North America, and East and Southeast Asian countries, particularly: Bhutan, China, Japan, Nepal, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Tibet, and the Himalayan region of India, and Sikkim. It is a well-known parasitic fungus that feeds on insects and other arthropods belonging to 10 different orders. Over 200 bioactive metabolites, that include: nucleotides and nucleosides, polysaccharides, proteins, polypeptides, amino acids, sterols, and fatty acids, among others have been extracted from Cordyceps spp. demonstrating the phytochemical richness of this genus. These components have been associated with a variety of pharmacological effects, including: anti-microbial, anti-apoptotic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities. In this paper, the bioactivity of various classes of metabolites produced by Cordyceps spp., and their therapeutic properties have been reviewed in an attempt to update the existing literature. Furthermore, one of its nucleoside and a key bioactive compound, cordycepin has been critically elaborated with regard to its biosynthesis pathway and the recently proposed protector-protégé mechanism as well as various biological and pharmacological effects, such as: suppression of purine and nucleic acid biosynthesis, induction of apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation with their mechanism of action. This review provides current knowledge on the bioactive potential of Cordyceps spp.

Preventative Effects of Cordyceps cicadae Mycelial Extracts on the Early-Stage Development of Cataracts in UVB-Induced Mice Cataract Model

Cataracts, a prevalent age-related eye condition, pose a significant global health concern, with rising rates due to an aging population and increased digital device usage. In Taiwan, cataract prevalence is particularly high, reaching up to 90% among individuals aged 70 and above. The lens of the eye absorbs short-wave light, which can lead to oxidative stress in lens epithelial cells and contribute to cataract formation. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light further exacerbates the risk of cataracts by generating reactive oxygen species. Heat-shock proteins (HSPs), involved in protein maintenance and repair, have been linked to cataract development. Cordyceps cicadae (C. cicadae), a traditional Chinese medicine, has a long history of use and is known for its pharmacological effects. N6-(2-hydroxyethyl) adenosine (HEA), a bioactive compound found in C. cicadae, exhibits anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective properties. Previous studies have shown that C. cicadae mycelial extracts improve dry eye disease and reduce intraocular pressure in animal models. Additionally, C. cicadae possesses antioxidant properties, which are beneficial for combating cataract formation. In this study, we aim to evaluate the preventive efficacy of C. cicadae mycelial extracts in UV-induced cataract development. By investigating the ameliorative effects of C. cicadae on eye diseases and its potential role in ocular health improvement, we hope to uncover new options for cataract prevention and provide insights into the mechanisms of action. The findings of this research could provide a novel approach for nutritional supplements targeting cataract prevention, offering potential benefits in the field of ocular health.

Aqueous extract of Cordyceps cicadae (Miq.) promotes hyaluronan synthesis in human skin fibroblasts: A potential moisturizing and anti-aging ingredient

Cordyceps cicadae (Miq.) is an edible fungus with unique and valuable medicinal properties that is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, but its anti-aging effects on the skin fibroblast are not well studied. The aim of the present study was to analyze the active components of aqueous C. cicadae extract (CCE), determine the effects of CCE on hyaluronan synthesis in human skin fibroblasts, and explore the underlying mechanisms. The results of this study indicate that CCE was rich in polysaccharides, five alditols (mainly mannitol), eight nucleosides, protein, and polyphenols, which were present at concentrations of 62.7, 110, 8.26, 35.7, and 3.8 mg/g, respectively. The concentration of extract required to inhibit 50% of 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazo-line-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging capacities were 0.36 ± 0.03 and 4.54 ± 0.10 mg/mL, respectively, indicating that CCE exhibits excellent antioxidant activities. CCE showed no cytotoxicity to skin fibroblasts at concentrations ≤ 100 μg/mL, and promoted HA synthesis in fibroblasts. Treatment of fibroblast cells with 100 μg/mL CCE enhances the HA content to 1293 ± 142 ng/mL, which is significantly more than that in the non-treatment (NT) group (p = 0.0067). Further, RNA sequencing detected 1,192 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CCE-treated fibroblasts, among which 417 were upregulated and 775 were downregulated. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes (KEGG) and Genomes pathway (GO) analysis based on RNA sequencing revealed that CCE mainly affected cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction regulated by HA synthesis-related genes. CCE upregulated HA synthase 2 (HAS2), epidermal growth factor (EGF)-related genes, heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, C-C motif chemokine ligand 2, interleukin 1 receptor-associated kinase 2, and other genes related to fibroblast differentiation and proliferation. CCE downregulated the gene of matrix metallopeptidase 12 (MMP12), which leads to cell matrix loss. RT-qPCR further verified CCE significantly upregulated HAS2 expression and significantly downregulated MMP12 expression, thus promoting hyaluronan synthesis. CCE shows potential as a moisturizer and anti-aging agent in functional foods and cosmetics.

CD44-Targeted Lipid Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles Enhance Anti-Breast Cancer Effect of Cordyceps militaris Extracts

This study aimed to improve the anticancer effect of Cordyceps militaris herbal extract (CME) on breast cancer cells with hyaluronic acid (HYA) surface-decorated lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPNPs) and evaluate the applicability of a synthesized poly(glycerol adipate) (PGA) polymer for LPNP preparation. Firstly, cholesterol- and vitamin E-grafted PGA polymers (PGA-CH and PGA-VE, respectively) were fabricated, with and without maleimide-ended polyethylene glycol. Subsequently, CME, which contained an active cordycepin equaling 9.89% of its weight, was encapsulated in the LPNPs. The results revealed that the synthesized polymers could be used to prepare CME-loaded LPNPs. The LPNP formulations containing Mal-PEG were decorated with cysteine-grafted HYA via thiol-maleimide reactions. The HYA-decorated PGA-based LPNPs substantially enhanced the anticancer effect of CME against MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells by enhancing cellular uptake through CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis. This study demonstrated the successful targeted delivery of CME to the CD44 receptors of tumor cells by HYA-conjugated PGA-based LPNPs and the new application of synthesized PGA-CH- and PGA-VE-based polymers in LPNP preparation. The developed LPNPs showed promising potential for the targeted delivery of herbal extracts for cancer treatment and clear potential for translation in in vivo experiments.

Role of the blue light receptor gene Icwc-1 in mycelium growth and fruiting body formation of Isaria cicadae

The Isaria cicadae, is well known highly prized medicinal mushroom with great demand in food and pharmaceutical industry. Due to its economic value and therapeutic uses, natural sources of wild I. cicadae are over-exploited and reducing continuously. Therefore, commercial cultivation in controlled environment is an utmost requirement to fulfill the consumer's demand. Due to the lack of knowledge on fruiting body (synnemata) development and regulation, commercial cultivation is currently in a difficult situation. In the growth cycle of macrofungi, such as mushrooms, light is the main factor affecting growth and development, but so far, specific effects of light on the growth and development of I. cicadae is unknown. In this study, we identified a blue light receptor white-collar-1 (Icwc-1) gene homologue with well-defined functions in morphological development in I. cicadae based on gene knockout technology and transcriptomic analysis. It was found that the Icwc-1 gene significantly affected hyphal growth and fruiting body development. This study confirms that Icwc-1 acts as an upstream regulatory gene that regulates genes associated with fruiting body formation, pigment-forming genes, and related genes for enzyme synthesis. Transcriptome data analysis also found that Icwc-1 affects many important metabolic pathways of I. cicadae, i.e., amino acid metabolism and fatty acid metabolism. The above findings will not only provide a comprehensive understanding about the molecular mechanism of light regulation in I. cicadae, but also provide new insights for future breeding program and improving this functional food production.

Amelioration of Cyclosporine A-Induced Acute Nephrotoxicity by Cordyceps cicadae Mycelia via Mg+2 Reabsorption and the Inhibition of GRP78-IRE1-CHOP Pathway: In Vivo and In Vitro

Fruiting bodies of Cordyceps cicadae (CC) have been reported to have a therapeutic effect in chronic kidney disease. Due to the rare and expensive resources from natural habitats, artificially cultivated mycelia using submerged liquid cultivation of CC (CCM) have been recently developed as an alternative to scarce sources of CC. However, little is known regarding potential protective effects of CCM against cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced acute nephrotoxicity in vivo and in vitro. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: control, CCM (40 mg and 400 mg/kg, orally), CsA (10 mg/kg, oral gavage), and CsA + CCM (40 mg and 400 mg/kg, orally). At the end of the study on day 8, all rats were sacrificed, and the blood and kidneys retrieved. CsA-induced acute nephrotoxicity was evident by increased levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Levels of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident chaperone glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP 78) were increased significantly in rats with acute nephrotoxicity. BUN and GRP 78 were significantly ameliorated in synchronous oral groups of CCM (40 or 400 mg/kg) plus CsA. Examination of hematoxylin and eosin stained kidney tissues revealed that the combined treatment of CCM slightly improved vacuolization in renal tubules upon CsA-induced damage. CsA-induced down-regulation of protein expression of magnesium ion channel proteins and transient receptor potential melastatin 6 and 7 were abolished by the combined treatment of CCM. CCM has the potential to protect the kidney against CsA-induced nephrotoxicity by reducing magnesium ion wasting, tubular cell damage, and ER stress demonstrated further by human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2. Our results contribute to the in-depth understanding of the role of polysaccharides and nucleobases as the main secondary metabolites of CCM in the defense system of renal functions in CsA-induced acute nephrotoxicity.

Cordyceps cicadae and Cordyceps gunnii have closer species correlation with Cordyceps sinensis: from the perspective of metabonomic and MaxEnt models

Cordyceps sinensis is a second-class nationally-protected medicinal fungus and functional food. Cordyceps sinensis resources are endangered, and finding new medicinal materials is a fast and economical way to meet the current demonstrated demand, which can effectively solve the shortage of C. sinensis resources. In this study, the metabolite characteristics of Cordyceps were comprehensively revealed by LC-QTOF-MS technology. The maxent model can be used to predict the habitat suitability distribution of Cordyceps and screen out the main climatic factors affecting its distribution. The correlation model between climate factors and chemical components was established by Pearson correlation analysis. Finally, based on the analysis of climate factors and metabolites, we will analyze the high correlation species with C. sinensis, and develop them as possible alternative species of C. sinensis in the future. The results showed that the suitable area of Cordyceps cicadae demonstrated a downward trend, while that of C. sinensis, Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps gunnii demonstrated an upwards trend. The suitable areas all shifted to the northwest. The temperature seasonality and max temperature of the warmest month are the maximum climatic factors affecting nucleosides. Compared with C. sinensis, the metabolic spectrum similarities of C. cicadae, C. militaris, and C. gunnii were 94.42%, 80.82%, and 91.00%, respectively. Cordyceps sinensis, C. cicadae, and C. gunnii were correlated well for compounds and climate factors. This study will explore whether C. cicadae, C. militaris and C. gunnii can be used as substitutes for C. sinensis. Our results may provide a reference for resource conservation and sustainable utilization of endangered C. sinensis.

Supramolecular structure features and immunomodulatory effects of exopolysaccharide from Paecilomyces cicadae TJJ1213 in RAW264.7 cells through NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways

This study investigated the supramolecular structure features and immunomodulatory effects of two exopolysaccharide fractions (EPS1 and EPS2) from Paecilomyces cicada TJJ1213 in vitro. AFM images revealed that EPS1 and EPS2 displayed different morphological features at different concentrations. Congo red and XRD assay further proved that EPS1 and EPS2 mainly exhibited amorphous structure with random coil conformation in solution. Furthermore, the immunomodulatory effect of EPSs was investigated on RAW264.7 cells. Results showed that EPS1 and EPS2 could enhance the phagocytic activity and induce the NO production and could also significantly up-regulate the mRNA expression of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ and IL-4. Western blot assay analysis demonstrated that EPSs increased protein expression of TLR4 and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p50/p65. Additionally, the phosphorylation levels of MAPKs proteins (p38, ERK and JNK) were also remarkably increased. Thus, EPSs could active TLR4-NF-κB/MAPKs signaling pathways to exert the immunomodulatory effect on macrophages.

Distinctive quality control method for solid-state fermented Isaria cicadae from strain Ic-17-7 and application in a rat model of type 2 diabetes

This work was aimed to establish a quality control method for evaluating the effects on glucose and lipids of the fruiting body of Isaria cicadae Miquel from strain Ic-17-7 (Ic-17-7fb) using a rat model of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Random amplified polymorphic DNA, sequence-characterized amplified region, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used for the quality control of Ic-17-7fb. The pharmacological effects on streptozocin (STZ)-induced high fat diet (HFD)-fed Albino Wistar rats were evaluated. The rats underwent the following treatments: control, metformin, Ic-17-7fb (0.166 and 0.5 g·kg^-1) or without treatment. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c) were measured. Ic-17-7fb amplified a single specific band by S11-2-F3 and S11-2-R3 primers. An HPLC-based quality and quantity method was established for industrial application. The contents of adenosine and N⁶-(2-hydroxyethyl) adenosine (HEA) of the cultivated Ic-17-7fb were analyzed. All of the validation lots of cultured Ic-17-7fb passed the quantity control of the training set (0.90 mg·g^-1 of adenosine and 0.89 mg·g^-1 of HEA). After two weeks of administration, the average FBG was 4.89 ± 0.42 (control), 26.10 ± 5.77 (model), 23.63 ± 6.15 (metformin), 17.96 ± 9.36 (Ic-17-7fb for 0.166 g·kg^-1), and 19.69 ± 8.71 mmol·L^-1 (Ic-17-7fb for 0.5 g·kg^-1). The FBG of Ic-17-7fb (0.166 g·kg^-1) treatment significantly reduced by 31.19%, compared with the model after two weeks of administration (P < 0.01). Metformin, Ic-17-7fb (0.166 g·kg ^-1), and Ic-17-7fb (0.5 g·kg^-1) reduced TC, TG, HDL-c, and LDL-c compared with the T2DM model treatment at the 6th week of treatment (P < 0.05). This study established the first quality standard for Ic-17-7fb, which can be effectively applied in the treatment of T2DM. The reliable quality control method and pharmacological effect will broaden its application space.

Mechanism of Cordyceps Cicadae in Treating Diabetic Nephropathy Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To systematically study the mechanism of cordyceps cicadae in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN) with the method of network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis, so as to provide theoretical basis for the development of new drugs for the treatment of DN.

METHODS

TCMSP, Symmap, PubChem, PubMed, and CTD database were used to predict and screen the active components and therapeutic targets for DN. The network of active components and targets was drawn by Cytoscape 3.6.0, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) was analyzed by the STRING database, and the DAVID database was used for the enrichment analysis of intersection targets. Molecular docking studies were finished by Discovery Studio 3.5.

RESULTS

A total of 36 active compounds, including myriocin, guanosine, and inosine, and 378 potential targets of cordyceps cicadae were obtained. PPI network analysis showed that AKT1, MAPK8, and TP53 and other targets were related to both cordyceps cicadae and DN. GO and KEGG pathway analysis showed that these targets were mostly involved in R-HSA-450341, 157.14-3-3 cell cycle, and PDGF pathways. Docking studies suggested that myriocin can fit in the binding pocket of two target proteins (AKT1 and MAPK8).

CONCLUSION

Active ingredients of cordyceps cicadae such as myriocin may act on DN through different targets such as AKT1, MAPK8, and TP53 and other targets, which can help to develop innovative drugs for effective treatment of DN.

Safety assessment of HEA-enriched Cordyceps cicadae mycelia on the central nervous system (CNS), cardiovascular system, and respiratory system in ICR male mice

Cordyceps cicadae, an entomopathogenic fungus, is a source of traditional Chinese medicine in China. Due to the low yield of wild C. cicadae, artificial cultivation approaches will be needed to meet the increasing market demand. Using bioreactor culture can increase mass production and the abundance of the active component, N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine (HEA). Here, we describe a safety assessment for a novel mycelium preparation method. Many studies have confirmed the safety of C. cicadae mycelia. However, the acute safety pharmacology of the C. cicadae enriched with the high HEA (3.90 mg/g) compound has not been evaluated. This study evaluated the central nervous system (CNS), cardiovascular system, and respiratory system in ICR male mice via oral gavage administration. For each requested item, two batches of eight mice tested on a vehicle (0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose, CMC) and C. cicadae mycelia (1,000 mg/kg) were performed. The heart rate at 60 min for the vehicle and C. cicadae mycelium treatment was 700.3 ± 55.4 and 603.0 ± 42.3 bpm, respectively (p = .4279). For echocardiographic analysis, the LV mass of the vehicle and drug treatment was 86.7 ± 6.4 and 80.2 ± 7.7, respectively (p = .0933). In the respiratory test, the tidal volume of the vehicle and drug treatments was 0.11 ± 0.01 and 0.14 ± 0.01 at 60 min, respectively (p = .4262). These results demonstrate that the oral administration of HEA-enriched C. cicadae mycelia is safe for the CNS, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems.

Simulated digestion and fecal fermentation behaviors of exopolysaccharides from Paecilomyces cicadae TJJ1213 and its effects on human gut microbiota

This study aimed to explore the in vitro simulated digestion and fecal fermentation behaviors of two purified exopolysaccharide fractions (EPS1 and EPS2) from Paecilomyces cicadae TJJ1213 and its effects on human gut microbiota composition. Results showed that EPS1 and EPS2 could not be digested by saliva-gastrointestinal. After fecal fermentation, however, the molecular weight of EPS1 and EPS2 significantly decreased, and the molar ratios of the monosaccharide composition remarkably changed, indicating that EPS1 and EPS2 could be degraded and consumed by human gut microbiota. Notably, EPS1 and EPS2 could significantly modulate the composition, via increasing the relative abundances of Bacteroides and Phascolarctobacterium and decreasing the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia-Shigella, Klebsiella and Fusobacterium. In addition, EPS1 and EPS2 also could promote the production of short-chain fatty acids during fermentation for 24 h. These results suggest that EPS from Paecilomyces cicadae TJJ1213 can be used as a functional food to improve health and prevent diseases by promoting gut health.

Molecular record for the first authentication of Isaria cicadae from Vietnam

The entomopathogenic fungus T011, parasitizing on nymph of Cicada, collected in the coffee garden in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam, was preliminarily morphologically identified as Isaria cicadae, belonged to order Hypocreales and family Clavicipitaceae. To ensure the authenticity of T011, phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated set of multiple genes including ITS, nrLSU, nrSSU, Rpb1, and Tef1 was applied to support the identification. Genomic DNA was isolated from dried sample T011. The PCR assay sequencing was applied to amplify ITS, nrLSU, nrSSU, Rpb1, and Tef1 gene. For phylogenetic analysis, the concatenated data of both target gens were constructed with MEGAX with a 1,000 replicate bootstrap based on the neighbor-joining, maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony method. As the result, the concatenated data containing 62 sequences belonged to order Hypocreales, families Clavicipitaceae, and 2 outgroup sequences belonged to order Hypocreales, genus Verticillium. The phylogenetic analysis results indicated that T011 was accepted at subclade Cordyceps and significantly formed the monophyletic group with referent Cordyceps cicadae (Telemorph of Isaria cicadae) with high bootstrap value. The phylogenetically analyzed result was strongly supported by our morphological analysis described as the Isaria cicadae. In summary, phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated dataset were successfully applied to strengthen the identification of T011 as Isaria cicadae.

The transcriptome analysis on urea response mechanism in the process of ergosterol synthesis by Cordyceps cicadae

Nitrogen source is required for the growth of Cordyceps cicadae and involved in the regulation of metabolite synthesis. In order to further investigate the regulatory effects of nitrogen sources on the ergosterol synthesis by C. cicadae. We first confirmed that urea could significantly increase the ergosterol synthesis. The transcriptome analysis showed that compared with biomass cultured in the control fermentation medium (CFM), 1340 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained by Gene Ontology (GO) annotation, and 312 DEGs were obtained by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotation from the biomass cultured in CFM + CO(NH₂)₂. Urea up-regulated D-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase gene transcription level and down-regulated enolase and L-serine/L-threonine ammonialyase gene transcription level, increased serine synthesis, allosterically activate pyruvate kinase, to promote the synthesis of pyruvate and CH₃CO ~ SCOA, the primer of ergosterol; Urea increase the genes transcription related with ergosterol synthesis by up-regulating the steroid regulatory element binding protein gene transcription levels. The transcriptome results were provided by those of qRT-PCR. Collectively, our finding provided valuable insights into the regulatory effect of nitrogen source on the ergosterol synthesis by C. cicadae.

Different Cultivation Environments Affect the Yield, Bacterial Community and Metabolites of Cordyceps cicadae

Cordyceps cicadae is an entomogenous fungus with important uses in traditional Chinese medicine. However, its wild resources have not met consumers' demand due to excessive harvesting practices. Artificial cultivation is therefore an important alternative, but research on cultivating C. cicadae in natural habitats has not been reported. In this study, we aimed to explore the viability of cultivating C. cicadae in a natural habitat, in the soil of Pinus massoniana forest. We assessed and compared the yield, metabolite contents and bacterial community composition of C. cicadae grown in the Antheraea pernyi pupae at different growth stages, and under different cultivation conditions, in the soil of a natural habitat and in sterile glass bottles. Our results showed that cultivating C. cicadae in a natural habitat is feasible, with up to 95% of pupae producing C. cicadae fruiting bodies. The content of nitrogen compounds (amino acids) in C. cicadae cultivated in a natural habitat was significantly higher than in glass bottles, while the yield and carbon compound (mannitol and polysaccharide) and nucleoside (cordycepin and adenosine) contents were lower. Different bacterial genera were enriched in C. cicadae at different growth stages and cultivation environments, and these bacterial genera were closely related to metabolites contents during growth. This study demonstrated the viability of a novel cultivation method of C. cicadae, which could be used as an alternative to wild stocks of this fungus. These findings provided new insights into the growth mechanism of C. cicadae and its interaction with soil microorganisms.

Quantitative and Molecular Similarity Analyses of the Metabolites of Cold- and Hot-Natured Chinese Herbs

Background

Based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese herbs possess four different medicinal properties: hot, warm, cold, and cool. These serve as a reference guide for these herbal medicines. However, the molecular mechanisms supporting their relevance remain unclear.

Methods

We performed metabolomics based on capillary electrophoresis-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOF/MS) and multivariate data analysis for the structural identification of compounds of cold- and hot-natured Chinese herbs.

Results

To this end, 30 selected herbs were analyzed and a total of 416 metabolites were identified via CE-TOF/MS, of which 193 compounds were detected in most herbs. The observed profiles offered the potential to understand the mechanism of association between the compounds and nature of the Chinese herbs. Comparison of the similarity in terms of chemical and molecular structures and content revealed that hot-natured herbs contained more nucleotides. In contrast, principal component analysis revealed the presence of more amino acid compounds in cold-natured herbs.

Conclusion

Comparing the structural similarities between the samples using the Tanimoto coefficient revealed that a general non-specific structure was observed between cold- and hot-natured herbs; however, the distribution of the molecular groups seemed to contribute more toward the energy properties.

One-Pot Derivatization for Wide-Scope Detection of Nucleobases and Deoxyribosides in Natural Medicinal Foods with Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A new chemical labeling-based LC-MS/MS approach was developed for quantitative profiling of nine canonical bases and deoxynucleosides (dNs) in natural products. Using 2-bromo-1-(4-dimethylamino-phenyl)-ethaone (BrDPE) as the tagging reagent, a previously unexploited N-alkylpyrimidine derivative (Nad) was created for one-pot labeling of widescope nucleobases via a flexible bromophilic substitution under mild conditions. The derivatization notably improved the LC-MS detection sensitivity by 31-107 fold, enabling a fast dilute-and-shoot analysis of highly diluted samples. The optimized and validated method demonstrated satisfactory accuracy (87-107%), precision (RSDs < 7.5%), and recovery (89-105%) for matrix-matched standard addition. The method was applied to simultaneously determine all target analytes and four uncanonical analogues and base-modified species in seven traditional health foods, which differ in contents by up to 600-fold for discrimination among samples. Further, the base-labeled Nads exhibit a unique fragmentation signature that could be used for untargeted screening of nucleobase-containing metabolites by simplified LC-MS/MS workflow to improve quality evaluation of natural medicinal products.

Can Cordyceps cicadae be used as an alternative to Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps sinensis? - A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cordyceps cicadae (Mig.) Massee is one of the oldest and well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its uses recorded as far back as the 5th century A.D. For centuries, C. cicadae has been used as food, tonic and folk medicine to treat malaria, palpitations, cancer, fever, diabetes, eye diseases, dizziness, and chronic kidney diseases. Although C. cicadae has been used as TCM for over 1600 years, it is not the most popular amongst the Cordyceps family. Cordyceps Sinensis (C. sinensis) and Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) are the most studied and widely used, with a number of commercially available products derived from these two Cordyceps species.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review seeks to look at the research that has been conducted on C. cicadae over the past 30 years, reporting on the biological activities, development and utilization. This information was compared to that focused on C. sinensis and C. militaris.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search was conducted on different scientific search engines including, but not limited to "Web of Science", "ScienceDirect" and "Google Scholar" to identify published data on C. cicadae, I. cicadae, P. cicadae, C. sinensis and C. militaris.

RESULTS

Research conducted on C. cicadae over the past two decades have shown that it poses similar biological properties and chemical composition as C. sinensis and C. militaris. C. cicadae has been reported to grow in many geographic locations, as compared to C. sinensis, and can be artificially cultivated via different methods.

CONCLUSION

There exists sufficient evidence that C. cicadae has medicinal benefits and contain bioactive compounds similar to those found on C. sinensis and C. militaris. However, more research and standardization methods are still needed to directly compare C. cicadae with C. sinensis and C. militaris, in order to ascertain the suitability of C. cicadae as an alternative source of Cordyceps products.

Identification and characterization of the glycoside hydrolase family 18 genes from the entomopathogenic fungus Isaria cicadae genome

Fungal chitinases play essential roles in chitin degradation, cell wall remodeling, chitin recycling, nutrition acquisition, autolysis, and virulence. In this study, 18 genes of the glycoside hydrolase 18 (GH18) family were identified in the Isaria cicadae genome. Seventeen of the genes belonged to chitinases and one was an endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (ENGase). According to phylogenetic analysis, the 17 chitinases were designated as subgroups A (7 chitinases), B (7), and C (3). The exon-intron organizations of these genes were analyzed. The conserved regions DxxDxDxE and S/AxGG and the domains CBM1, CBM18, and CBM50 were detected in I. cicadae chitinases and ENGase. The results of analysis of expression patterns showed that genes ICchiA1, ICchiA6, ICchiB1, and ICchiB4 had high transcript levels in the different growth conditions or developmental stages. Subgroup A chitinase genes had higher transcript levels than the genes of all other chitinases. Subgroup B chitinase genes (except ICchiB7) presented higher transcript levels in chitin medium compared with other conditions. ICchiC2 and ICchiC3 were mainly transcribed in autolysis medium and in blastospores, respectively. Moreover, ICchiB1 presented higher transcript levels than genes of other chitinases. This work provides an overview of the GH18 chitinases and ENGase in I. cicadae and provides a context for the chitinolytic potential, functions, and biological controls of these enzymes of entomopathogenic fungi.

Using submerged fermentation to fast increase N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine, adenosine and polysaccharide productions of Cordyceps cicadae NTTU 868

Cordyceps cicadae is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine for treating palpitations and eye diseases. It contains several bioactive compounds such as adenosine, N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine (HEA), and polysaccharide. Those bioactive compounds have been reported to perform anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory properties and provide renal protection. In this study, we researched different fermentation conditions in order to enhance the biomass, adenosine, HEA, and polysaccharide productions of C. cicadae NTTU 868. Solid fermentation was carried out with different grain substrates (barley, oat, rice and wheat). Various submerged fermentation scales were used to produce the C. cicadae NTTU 868 mycelium. The results of solid fermentation revealed that C. cicadae NTTU 868 produced higher adenosine and HEA concentrations in oat rather than in other substrates. C. cicadae NTTU 868 mycelium had obtained the highest concentrations of adenosine and HEA on Day 2 as using the small-scale submerged fermentation. Furthermore, potato dextrose broth with extra 0.2% of yeast extract was able to result in higher HEA concentration. In conclusion, using submerged fermentation to culture C. cicadae NTTU 868 resulted in more efficient adenosine, HEA, and polysaccharide productions than using solid-fermentation, especially when 0.2% of yeast extract was used in the PDB. Importantly, this can be easily scaled-up in the fermentation industry.

Comparative study of the composition of cultivated, naturally grown Cordyceps sinensis, and stiff worms across different sampling years

Natural Cordyceps sinensis, which is a valuable anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, and antiviral agent in Asia, has been overexploited in recent years. Therefore, it is important for cultivated C. sinensis to be recognized in the market. In this research, the main components of entirely cultivated, naturally grown C. sinensis, and stiff worms across different sampling years were detected and compared by HPLC-MS and UV spectrometry. The results indicated that the mean levels of adenosine and cordycepin were significantly higher, whereas the mean levels of mannitol and polysaccharides were remarkably lower in the cultivated type than in the natural type. No distinct difference in the average soluble protein content was observed. The composition of the stiff worms was similar to that of the natural herb, except that the total soluble protein content was higher, and that of mannitol was lower. In addition, the ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy of the three types showed high similarity at 260 nm. This research indicates that the main nutritional composition of cultivated and natural C. sinensis is identical and that cultivated type can be used as an effective substitute.

Promotion of Metabolite Synthesis in Isaria cicadae, a Dominant Species in the Cicada Flower Microbiota, by Cicada Pupae

Cicada flowers, which are edible and medicinal mushrooms, are the fruiting bodies of Isaria cicadae, a fungus that is parasitic on the larvae of cicada pupae. We hypothesize that host factors might possess stimulatory activity on metabolite synthesis in Isaria cicadae. Here, we first compared the microbial community structures of different wild cicada flowers across geographical regions, compartments, and growth stages via high-throughput sequencing. Isaria cicadae TZC-3, an isolate of the most abundant operational taxonomic unit (OTU6782) in all the fungal communities, was isolated from wild cicada flowers. Furthermore, the effects of cicada pupae on metabolite synthesis in Isaria cicadae TZC-3 were studied in submerged culture. The contents of intercellular polysaccharides, adenosine, N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine, free amino acids, and hydrolyzed monosaccharides in the mycelia cultured with cicada pupa powder (4%) were significantly increased as compared with the contents in the control group. This indicates that a cicada pupa can act as an elicitor for metabolite synthesis in Isaria cicadae.

Effects of supplemented culture media from solid-state fermented Isaria cicadae on performance, serum biochemical parameters, serum immune indexes, antioxidant capacity and meat quality of broiler chickens

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate effects of supplementation of culture media from solid-state fermented Isaria cicadae (I. cicadae) on performance, serum biochemical parameters, serum immune indexes, antioxidant capacity and meat quality of broiler chickens.

Methods

A total of 648 Arbor Acres male broiler chickens(1 d; average body weight, 42.93± 0.47 g) were randomly assigned to 6 treatments, each with six replicates and 18 broiler chickens per replicate. Broiler chickens were fed phase I (d 1 to 21) and phase II (d 22 to 42) diets. The phase I diets were corn and soybean-meal based diets supplemented with 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, or 10% culture media from solid-state fermented I. cicadae respectively. The phase II diets were corn and soybean-meal based diets supplemented with 0%, 1.33%, 2.67%, 4.00%, 5.32%, or 6.67% culture media from solid-state fermented I. cicadae respectively.

Results

In phase I, the broiler chickens with the supplementation of culture media had increased body weight gain and feed intake (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) with increasing inclusion of culture media. The levels of serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased linearly (p<0.05). In phase II, levels of serum T-AOC and interleukin-1β increased linearly (p<0.05), and GSH increased (p<0.05). In the kidney, GSH and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) concentrations increased (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) and SOD concentration increased linearly (p<0.05). Compared to the control, shear force and drip loss of breast muscle decreased (linear and quadratic, p< 0.05). Drip loss of leg muscle decreased linearly and quadratically (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Dietary supplementation of culture media from solid-state fermented I.cicadae which was enriched in both wheat and residual bioactive components of I. cicadae enhanced the growth performance of broiler chickens. It also improved body anti-oxidative status and contributed to improve broiler meat quality.

Determination and Quantitative Comparison of Nucleosides in two Cordyceps by HPLC-ESI-MS-MS

A hybrid quadruple linear ion trap liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) analytical method has been developed for simultaneous determination of 13 nucleosides from Cordyceps cicadae and Cordyceps sinensis for assessing whether C. cicadae can become a substitute for C. sinensis, based on that C. cicadae has in common with C. sinensis for treating chronic diseases. Among the 13 compounds, three compounds including cytidine, hypoxanthine and 2'-deoxyguanosine were firstly identified and quantified in C. cicadae. Ideal separation was achieved in one single LC-MS-MS run of 12 min by optimized chromatographic conditions. The identification and quantification analysis of target compounds were performed in electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The limit of detection and quantity for 13 compounds were <42.0 and 84.2 ng/mL, respectively. The determination results of 12 batches of C. sinensis and 20 batches of C. cicadae were then analyzed and classified by multivariate statistical analysis. C. cicadae contained a relatively higher level of three nucleosides (cytidine, uracil and 2'-deoxyuridine) than those in C. sinensis. The results of this study provided the theoretical basis for the substitution of C. sinensis with C. cicadae. The optimized method could be used for the quality control and investigate bioactive compound variation of Cordyceps.

N6 -(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine from Cordyceps cicadae protects against diabetic kidney disease via alleviation of oxidative stress and inflammation

This study investigated the kidney-protective ability of N⁶ -(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine (HEA) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in the rats by the administration of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg, i.p) and treated with HEA for 6 weeks. Diabetic rats displayed marked increase in blood glucose, serum creatinine (Scr), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), in addition to high excretion of urinary protein and albumin. Furthermore, diabetic rats showed decreased renal levels of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as renal concentrations of pro-inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and TGF-β1). Treatment of diabetic rats with HEA (20 and 40 mg/kg) significantly increased the renal antioxidant level, reduced the levels of blood glucose, Scr, BUN, urinary protein, albumin, and pro-inflammatory mediators in a dose-dependent fashion. Histological evaluation of the kidney of diabetic rats indicated that HEA also ameliorated glomerular and tubular changes. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: HEA is a bioactive constituent isolated from Cordyceps cicadae and has been shown to possess antihyperglycemic, kidney protective, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory effects in diabetic rats. HEA stimulated the antioxidant enzymes' activities in the kidney tissues as well as reduced pro-inflammatory mediators, indicating its antidiabetic and renoprotective effects in diabetic models. The results showed that HEA attenuated oxidative stress and inflammation in kidney tissues.

Evaluation of the Anti-Diabetic Activity of Polysaccharide from Cordyceps cicadae in Experimental Diabetic Rats

Cordyceps cicadae is a medicinal fungus used in treating night sweat, childhood convulsions, vision improvement and pain. This study was designed to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of the crude polysaccharide (SHF) from the mycelium and body portion of C. cicadae. Diabetes mellitus was induced in the rat with a single intravenous injection of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg). In other to evaluate the anti-diabetic effects of C. cicadae polysaccharide in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, the crude polysaccharide (SHF at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) and glibenclamide were administered orally to diabetic rats for 30 days. Blood glucose level, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphate (ALP), creatinine (CREA), urea, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH) were determined. SHF showed significant reduction in blood glucose in diabetic rats. Treatment of diabetic rats also resulted an improvement in body weights, increased HDL, SOD and GSH, as well as decreased TC, TG, LDL, MDA, urea, CREA, ALT, AST and ALP. These results suggested that C. cicadae polysaccharide displayed anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities and could be a promising therapeutic source in managing diabetes mellitus and its associated complications.

Determination of the Main Nucleosides and Nucleobases in Natural and Cultured Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis

Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis, a recently described species of Ophiocordycepsthat is associated with the larvae of Phassusnodus (Hepialidae) in the living root or trunk of the medicinal plant Clerodendrumcyrtophyllum, isthe largest known Cordycepsspecies and is recognized as a desirable alternative for natural Ophiocordycepssinensis. This study investigated the main nucleosides and nucleobases in natural and cultured Ophiocordycepsxuefengensis. The contents of the nucleosides and nucleobases in the natural and cultured samples were determined by reverse phase HPLC. The highest concentration of adenosine was found in the natural fruit body and the cultured stroma, with almost no adenosine in the cadaver of Phassusnodus. The contents of adenine, guanosine, uridine and uracil in the cultured mycelium were significantly higher than those in the natural sample. Inosine was only detected in the natural samples. Thymidine and 2-deoxyadenosine were only found in the cadaver of Phassusnodus. Cordycepin was not detected in the five samples examined. These results suggested that the cultured mycelium and cultured stroma of Ophiocordycepsxuefengensis might be a promising substitute for natural O. xuefengensis.

Omics data reveal the unusual asexual-fruiting nature and secondary metabolic potentials of the medicinal fungus Cordyceps cicadae

Background

Ascomycete Cordyceps species have been using as valued traditional Chinese medicines. Particularly, the fruiting bodies of Cordyceps cicadae (syn. Isaria cicadae) have long been utilized for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. However, the genetics and bioactive chemicals in this fungus have been largely unexplored.

Results

In this study, we performed comprehensive omics analyses of C. cicadae, and found that, in contrast to other Cordyceps fungi, C. cicadae produces asexual fruiting bodies with the production of conidial spores instead of the meiotic ascospores. Genome sequencing and comparative genomic analysis indicate that the protein families encoded by C. cicadae are typical of entomopathogenic fungi, including the expansion of proteases and chitinases for targeting insect hosts. Interestingly, we found that the MAT1-2 mating-type locus of the sequenced strain contains an abnormally truncated MAT1-1-1 gene. Gene deletions revealed that asexual fruiting of C. cicadae is independent of the MAT locus control. RNA-seq transcriptome data also indicate that, compared to growth in a liquid culture, the putative genes involved in mating and meiosis processes were not up-regulated during fungal fruiting, further supporting asexual reproduction in this fungus. The genome of C. cicadae encodes an array of conservative and divergent gene clusters for secondary metabolisms. Based on our analysis, the production of known carcinogenic metabolites by this fungus could be potentially precluded. However, the confirmed production of oosporein raises health concerns about the frequent consumption of fungal fruiting bodies.

Conclusions

The results of this study expand our knowledge of fungal genetics that asexual fruiting can occur independent of the MAT locus control. The obtained genomic and metabolomic data will benefit future investigations of this fungus for medicinal uses.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-4060-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Neuroprotective effects of adenosine isolated from Cordyceps cicadae against oxidative and ER stress damages induced by glutamate in PC12 cells

Glutamate has been proven to induce oxidative stress through the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased calcium overload which results in neuronal injury, development of neurodegenerative diseases and death. Adenosine is one of the bioactive nucleosides found in Cordyceps cicadae and it has displayed several pharmacological activities including neuroprotection. In this study, the protective effects of adenosine from C. cicadae against glutamate-induce oxidative stress in PC12 cells were evaluated. The exposure of PC12 cells to glutamate (5mM) induced the formation of ROS, increased Ca(2+) influx, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and up regulated the expression of pro-apoptotic factor Bax. However, pretreatment with adenosine markedly increased cell viability, decreased the elevated levels of ROS and Ca(2+) induced by glutamate. Furthermore adenosine increased the activities of GSH-Px and SOD, as well as retained mitochondria membrane potential (MMP), increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and reduced the expression of ERK, p38, and JNK. Overall, our results suggest that adenosine may be a promising potential therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Chemical Constituents of Cordyceps cicadae

One new bifuran derivative (1), together with fourteen known compounds, were isolated from Cordyceps cicadae X. Q. Shing. The known compounds included nine nucleosides, uracil (2), uridine (3), 2′-deoxyuridine (4), 2′-deoxyinosine (5), guanosine (6), 2′-deoxyguanosine (7), thymidine (8), adenosine (9), and 2′-deoxyadenosine (10); three amino acids tryptophan (11), phenylalanine (12), and tyrosine (13); and two dopamine analogues N-acetylnoradrenaline (14) and its dimer, trans–2-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-acetylamino-7-( N-acetyl-2″-amino-ethylene)-1,4-benzodioxane (15). Their structures were decisively elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques.

Dereplication of known nucleobase and nucleoside compounds in natural product extracts by capillary electrophoresis-high resolution mass spectrometry

Nucleobase and nucleoside compounds exist widely in various organisms. An often occurring problem in the discovery of new bioactive compounds from natural products is reisolation of known nucleobase and nucleoside compounds. To resolve this problem, a capillary electrophoresis-high resolution mass spectrometry (CE-HR-MS) method providing both rapid separation and accurate mass full-scan MS data was developed for the first time to screen and dereplicate known nucleobase and nucleoside compounds in crude extracts of natural products. Instrumental parameters were optimized to obtain optimum conditions for CE separation and electrospray ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF/MS) detection. The proposed method was verified to be precise, reproducible, and sensitive. Using this method, known nucleobase and nucleoside compounds in different marine medicinal organisms including Syngnathus acus Linnaeus; Hippocampusjaponicus Kaup and Anthopleura lanthogrammica Berkly were successfully observed and identified. This work demonstrates that CE-HR-MS combined with an accurate mass database may be used as a powerful tool for dereplicating known nucleobase and nucleoside compounds in different types of natural products. Rapid dereplication of known nucleobase and nucleoside compounds allows researchers to focus on other leads with greater potential to yield new substances.