DETERMINATION OF ADENOSINE AND CORDYCEPIN IN CULTURE AND NATURAL CORDYCEPS

Abstract

Cordyceps sinensis or Ophiocordyceps sinensis is parasite fungus in the insects.  It contains polysaccharides, nucleoside derivatives, some amino acids and sterol which showed some pharmacological activities. Therefore, it causes the interests to culture in the laboratory especially Cordyceps militaris. This study aimed to determine the major contents (cordycepin and adenosine) in culture and natural Cordyceps. The culture Cordyceps were grown in potato dextrose agar (PDA), potato dextrose broth (PDB) medium and later on the culture materials. The contents of adenosine and cordycepin were analyzed with reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The results showed that both adenosine (0.20-0.21 mg/g) and cordycepin (0.90-1.76 mg/g) were found in the fruiting body of culture Cordyceps but only adenosine (1.66-2.95 mg/g) was the major nucleoside found in the natural Cordyceps. This method can be adopted to analyze adenosine and cordycepin in Cordyceps dietary products.