title: Effect of UV-B Irradiation on Physiologically Active Substance Content and Antioxidant Properties of the Medicinal Caterpillar Fungus Cordyceps militaris (Ascomycetes).
abstract: Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) light irradiation is a well-known technique for converting vitamin D2 from ergosterol in mushroom fruit bodies. Mushrooms are a natural and nonanimal food source of vitamin D2. We studied the effect of UV-B light irradiation on the amount of vitamin D2 and physiologically active substances in Cordyceps militaris and their antioxidant properties. After UV-B irradiation for 2 hours, the vitamin D2 content of freshly harvested C. militaris fruiting bodies, mycelia, whole submerged culture (WSC), and homogenized submerged culture (HSC) increased from 0 to 0.03 to 0.22 to 1.11 mg/g, but the ergosterol content was reduced from 1.36 to 2.50 to 1.24 to 2.06 mg/g, respectively. After UV-B irradiation, the amount of adenosine, cordycepin, and ergothioneine of fruiting bodies dramatically increased 32-128%, but the polysaccharide content slightly decreased 36%. The reverse trends were observed in mycelia, WSC, and HSC. UV-B irradiation could reduce the effective concentrations at 50% of fruiting bodies for ethanolic and hot water extracts in reducing power, scavenging, and chelating abilities, whereas mycelia, WSC, and HSC of ethanolic extracts increased effective concentrations at 50% in reducing power, scavenging, and chelating abilities. UV-B irradiation slightly increased flavonoid content (10-56%) and slightly affected total phenol content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Food, Chung Chou University of Science and Technology, Yuanlin, Changhua 51003, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shih-Jeng
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, Wufeng, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chun-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, National Chung-Hsing University, 250 Kuokuang Road, Taichung 40227, Taiwan, ROC; NCHU-UCD Plant and Food Biotechnology Program, Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jeng-Leun
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mau
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, Wufeng, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yu-Shan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, 500 Liufeng Road, Wufeng, Taichung 41354, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Nutrition, China Medical University, No. 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shu-Yao
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003839:Deoxyadenosines / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004872:Ergocalciferols / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004880:Ergothioneine / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D048690:Fruiting Bodies, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D025282:Mycelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003839:Deoxyadenosines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004872:Ergocalciferols; D011134:Polysaccharides; D004880:Ergothioneine; C058120:cordycepin; D000241:Adenosine