Current Microbiology, Vol.69, No.3, 270-276, 2014
Production and in Vivo Antioxidant Activity of Zn, Ge, Se-enriched Mycelia by Cordyceps sinensis SU-01
Cordyceps sinensis, a traditionally edible and medicinal fungus in China, cannot be artificially solid-cultured. Zinc (Zn), germanium (Ge), and selenium (Se) are the essential trace elements for human body. In this work, C. sinensis SU-01 was cultivated in liquid medium simultaneously containing Zn, Ge, and Se. The bioactive ingredients and in vivo antioxidant activities of Zn, Ge, Se-enriched mycelia (ZGSM) of C. sinensis SU-01 were investigated. Under the determined conditions, the Zn, Ge, and Se contents of ZGSM were 2543.16 +/- A 158.92, 1873.85 +/- A 81.82, and 1260.16 +/- A 107.12 mu g/g, respectively. The optimal concentrations of Zn, Ge, and Se had a positive effect on biosynthesis of protein, polysaccharide, cordycepic acid, and amino acids. The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) of mice blood were 3.72 +/- A 0.15 and 28.74 +/- A 2.53 % higher than that of control, respectively, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was 41.01 +/- A 3.66 % lower than that of control.