V. Antifungal and Anticancer Activities
A cytotoxic antifungal protease was
purified from the dried fruiting bodies of
C. militaris using anion-exchange
chromatography on a DEAE-Sepharose
column. Electrophoretic analyses
indicated that this protein, designated C.
militaris protein (CMP), has a molecular
mass of 12 kDa and a pI of 5.1. The
optimum conditions for protease activity
were a temperature of 37oC and pH of
7.0∼9.0. The enzyme activity was
specifically inhibited by the serine
protease inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl
fluoride. Amino acid composition of
intact CMP and amino acid sequences of
three major peptides from a tryptic digest
of CMP were determined. CMP exerted
strong antifungal effect against the growth
of the fungus Fusariumoxysporum, and
exhibited cytotoxicity against human
breast and bladder cancer cells[15].
VI. Cordyceps militaris against Clostridium
spp.
Naturally occurring antibacterial agent,
cordycepin could be useful as a new
preventive agent against various diseases
caused by clostridia. C. militaris-derived
materials would be expected to alter the
growth and composition of the intestinal
flora and modulate the genesis of
potentially harmful agents, thus
maintaining optimal human health[16].
VII. Cordycepin Suppresses Expression of
Diabetes Regulating Genes
Based on these observations, cordycepin
sup- pressed T2D regulating genes