Morpho-Genetic
Characterization and Bioactivity Evaluation of Cordyceps militaris cultivated on
Various Substrates
Sharma Akhil, Sharma Vikas, Sharma Shivika and Kumar Amit
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 20(10); 178-187;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/2010rjbt1780187; (2025)
Abstract
Cordyceps militaris, a well-known medicinal mushroom, possesses diverse pharmacological
properties attributed to its rich repertoire of bioactive compounds such as cordycepin,
polysaccharides and phenolics. This study aimed to investigate the morphological
and genetic characteristics of C. militaris and to evaluate the antimicrobial and
antioxidant potential of its fruiting bodies cultivated on five different low-cost
substrates: brown rice, foxtail millet, pearl millet, wheat and corn. Solid-state
fermentation was employed for cultivation and morphological traits such as fruiting
body length, weight and coloration were recorded. Brown rice substrate supported
the highest yield in terms of fruiting body size and biomass, while foxtail millet
showed the least productivity. Genetic identification using ITS sequencing confirmed
the strain's alignment with C. militaris and its close phylogenetic relationship
with other Cordyceps species. Ethanolic extracts exhibited the strongest antimicrobial
activity, particularly those derived from foxtail millet and brown rice substrates,
with inhibition zones up to 25.76 mm against S. aureus. Methanolic extracts showed
moderate activity, while aqueous extracts were the least effective.
The antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH free radical scavenging assay.
Ethanolic extracts from fruiting bodies grown on foxtail millet exhibited the highest
antioxidant activity with 91% radical scavenging and an IC₅₀ of 0.324 mg/mL, outperforming
other substrate-derived extracts. This indicates that substrate composition significantly
influences the production of bioactive compounds. Overall, this research underscores
the importance of substrate selection in optimizing both the yield and medicinal
value of Cordyceps militaris. The findings support the potential of C. militaris
as a natural source of antimicrobial and antioxidant agents, paving the way for
its application in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Further exploration
of genetic mechanisms governing bioactive compound synthesis may enhance production
efficiency and therapeutic efficacy.
