Optimization of Solid-state Fermentation for Fruiting Body Growth and Cordycepin Production by Cordyceps militaris

Cordyceps sinensis has traditionally been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, however C. militaris has gained importance and is also used as a functional food. Cordyceps militaris contains similar biochemical components as C. sinensis as well as the anti-cancer component cordycepin. Because C. mllitaris can be grown in culture and has significant medicinal affects, market demand for artificial C. militaris has increased. This study was aimed to optimize the conditions of solid-state fermentation for fruiting body growth and cordycepin production from C. militaris by one-factor-at-a-time and orthogonal layout methods. The optimal culture substrate was brown rice. The optimal fruiting body growth and cordycepin production were observed at relatively low pH value. The optimum composition were 40 g/L glucose, 5 g/L peptone, 1.5 g/L MgSO4 center dot 7H(2)O, 1.5 g/L K2HPO4 and 1.0 mg/L NAA for optimal fruiting body growth and 10 g/L glucose, 10 g/L peptone, 1.0 g/L MgSO4 center dot 7H(2)O, 1.0 g/L K2HPO4 and 1.0 mg/L NAA for cordycepin production. These optimization strategies in solid medium culture lead to a 67.96 % (1.73 +/- 0.08 g/bottle) increase in fruiting body yield and a 63.17% (9.17 +/- 0.09 mg/g) increase of cordycepin yield in fruiting body, which may be applied in industrial production of cordycepin via solid-state fermentation.