Comparison of Chemical Compositions, Bioactive Ingredients, and In Vitro Antitumor Activity of Four Products of Cordyceps (Ascomycetes) Strains from China

The chemical compositions, bioactive ingredients, and in vitro antitumor activity were analyzed using water extracts from the dried fermented mycelia of Cephalosporium sinensis (C1), Paecilomyces hepiali (C2), Cordyceps cicadae (C3), as well as the dried fruiting bodies of C. militaris (C4). Total amino acid content was highest in C3, compared with C1, C2, C4, and natural C. militaris (S1). The contents of Fe, Zn, Mn, and Ca as well as the Zn/Cu ratio in C1-C3 were obviously different than those of C4 and S1, whereas Na contents and K/Na ratios in C3, C4, and S1 were obviously different from those in C1 and C2. Except for C4, cordycepin was not detected in C1-C3 or S1. The crude polysaccharide contents in C4 and total triterpenoid content in C4 were relatively lower than that in C1-C3. Detailed analysis of the crude polysaccharide from C4 did not detect fucose, but it contained the highest amount of glucose, compared with C1-C3. Additionally, the antitumor activities of the respective water extracts were ranked in the order of C3 > C4 > C1 > C2. These results can help us better understand products of Cordyceps strains.