Abstract
In this study, we introduced the dead pupa and larva of Bombyx mori silkworms as nutrition medium for the
growing of different fungi including Cordyceps militaris, Isaria tenuipes and Isaria farinose to produce
Cordyceps mycelia and anti-cancer cordycepin. The anti-proliferative and anti-migratory activities of cordycepin
extracted toward cancer cells were investigated. We found that the dead silk larva which contained high
carbohydrate and moisture but low fat content could be a good host for the growth of Cordyceps militaris and
Isaria tenuipes to produce Cordyceps. The cordycepin extracted from Cordyceps mycelia of Cordyceps militaris
grown on dead silk larva showed the highest anti-proliferative potential toward human non-small cell lung
cancer NCI-H460 cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.7 μM. Furthermore, the viability
of human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial A549 cell line remained < 20% while that of human airway epithelial
Calu-3 cell line was < 40% after treated with the cordycepin extracted (0.125-2 μM) due to the disruption of cell
membrane by cordycepin. We also found that our cordycepin (0.25-2 μM) could inhibit the migration of A549
cells. On the other hand, the cordycepin was not toxic to small airway epithelial cells (SAEC) of non-cancer cells.
Therefore, Cordyceps militaris grown on the dead larva of B. mori silkworms was introduced as a promising
source for the production of Cordyceps mycelia and anti-cancer cordycepin without toxicity to non-cancer cells.