title: Evaluation of an Epitypified Ophiocordyceps formosana (Cordyceps s.l.) for Its Pharmacological Potential.
abstract: The substantial merit of Cordyceps s.l. spp. in terms of medicinal benefits is largely appreciated. Nevertheless, only few studies have characterized and examined the clinical complications of the use of health tonics containing these species. Here, we epitypified C. formosana isolates that were collected and characterized as Ophiocordyceps formosana based on morphological characteristics, molecular phylogenetic analyses, and metabolite profiling. Thus, we renamed and transferred C. formosana to the new protologue Ophiocordyceps formosana (Kobayasi & Shimizu) Wang, Tsai, Tzean & Shen comb. nov. Additionally, the pharmacological potential of O. formosana was evaluated based on the hot-water extract from its mycelium. The relative amounts of the known bioactive ingredients that are unique to Cordyceps s.l. species in O. formosana were found to be similar to the amounts in O. sinensis and C. militaris, indicating the potential applicability of O. formosana for pharmacological uses. Additionally, we found that O. formosana exhibited antioxidation activities in vitro and in vivo that were similar to those of O. sinensis and C. militaris. Furthermore, O. formosana also displayed conspicuously effective antitumor activity compared with the tested Cordyceps s.l. species. Intrinsically, O. formosana exhibited less toxicity than the other Cordyceps species. Together, our data suggest that the metabolites of O. formosana may play active roles in complementary medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Mucho Biotechnology Inc., Taipei 10684, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzu-Wen
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ying-Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Mucho Biotechnology Inc., Taipei 10684, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sheng-Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Pham Thi Kim
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Lien
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzu-Ho
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Mucho Biotechnology Inc., Taipei 10684, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jui-Ya
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Mucho Biotechnology Inc., Taipei 10684, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10672, Taiwan ; Center for Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Torng
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan ; Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Irie
authors.affiliation: Center for Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan ; Graduate Institute of Microbiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsai-Kun
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shean-Shong
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Tzean
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan ; Center for Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tang-Long
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Shen