Naturally occurring CS is a parasitic complex of fungus and
caterpillar. The fungus infects the underground larva of one
particular species of moth, Hepialus armoricanus in the winter
months. Subsequently in the summer months a fruiting body
protrudes from the dead caterpillar and grows above ground hence
its name “dong-chong-xia-cao” (winter worm, summer grass).
Growth of CS is limited to the high altitudes on the Qinghai-Tibetan
plateau and Southwestern China. Because CS grows in such
restricted habitats, the natural product is both rare and expensive.
In order to satisfy the increasing demand of this relatively rare
resource, with the development of fermentation technology, CS
derivatives have been produced by aseptic mycelia cultivation.
Currently both natural and cultured Cordyceps products are sold as
health food products in South East Asia. Whether these products
have a similar pharmacological effect however is unclear.
The aim of the current work was to compare and contrast the
bio-activity of natural CS and two specific products derived from
cultured Cordyceps mycelia, “Jinshuibao Capsule” (Paecilomyces
sinensis) and “Corbrin Capsule” (Hirsutella sinensis). Both strains are
grown by submerged fermentation, and in addition to the strain
differences, the culture conditions are also different between the
two products, with soybeans used for the culture medium used for
the former, while fish flour is used for the latter. In addition there
are differences in the duration and temperature for culture of the
two strains with the product of “Jinshuibao Capsule” cultured at
temperatures from 25 C to 35 C, with a culture cycle of 3e7 days,
whilst the product of “Corbrin Capsule” cultured at temperatures of
15 Ce18 C, with a culture cycle of 40e45 days. Specifically we
examined the ability of the raw material, and the hydrophilic and
hydrophobic extracts from each preparation, to antagonise the
activity of the pro-fibrotic cytokine TGF-b1 in two different cell
systems.