Doubled production of cordycepin analogs in cultured Cordyceps militaris by addition of Andrea droppings

Cordyceps sinensisis a traditional Chinese medicine with various biological activities. With its limited natural supply, culturedC. militarishas become the major alternative source, and the culture conditions may affect the chemical compositions. To improve the production of chemical ingredients,C. militariswas cultured with three different media, including rice only, rice plus 3% tea leaves, and rice plus 3% droppings ofAndraca theae. The fractions of driedC. militariscultured with rice were chromatographic separated to afford ten compounds: phenylalanine, dimerumic acid, nicotinic acid, tryptophan,N-6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine, uracil, uridine, cordycepin, ergosterol, and mannitol. Of these, in the cultured medium of rice plus 3%Andracadroppings, the amount of one major compound cordycepin is about two folds than the highest reported data, and dimerumic acid andN(6)-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine were isolated for the first time from this species.