{
  "abstract": "Cordyceps militaris is a cultivated mushroom of growing interest for obtaining nutritionally relevant and bioactive components. The nutritional composition, mineral profile, selected bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of commercially cultivated C. militaris sourced from the Islamabad Mushroom Spawn Production Lab in Pakistan were characterized. AOAC methods were used to analyze the proximate composition; mineral contents were quantified; HPLC measured selected bioactive compounds; and TPC, TFC, DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP measured antioxidant activity. The fruiting bodies (FB) contained 35.19 ± 2.91% protein, 43.14 ± 0.90% carbohydrates, 7.49 ± 0.87% crude fiber, and 3.52 ± 0.15% crude fat, with an energy value of 390.91 ± 15 kcal/100 g. Phosphorus (8776 ± 69.1 mg/kg), magnesium (5641 ± 24.5 mg/kg), sulfur (4971 ± 15.0 mg/kg), and potassium (2234 ± 13.4 mg/kg) were the predominant minerals. The HPLC analysis revealed various bioactive compounds such as cordycepin (4.25 ± 0.65 mg/g), ergothioneine, cordycepic acid, phenolic content, quercetin, and antioxidant vitamins. The extract exhibited measurable antioxidant activity, with TPC and TFC values of 21.48 ± 1.10 mg GAE/g and 6.91 ± 0.45 mg QE/g, correspondingly, and DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS values of 14.9 ± 0.85 mg GAE/mL, 8.5 ± 0.53 µM Fe²⁺/g, and 0.60 ± 0.01 mg/mL, respectively. In all, the analyzed C. militaris was rich in nutrients and had a wide range of quantified bioactive components. The results obtained here could be used as compositional data for commercially grown C. militaris in Pakistan and could help its further assessment as a functional food and nutraceutical raw material. The results, however, are only a compositional and in vitro antioxidant evaluation and cannot prove bioavailability or therapeutic efficacy.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Sargodha",
    "Department of Nutritional Sciences, Government College University Faisalabad",
    "Department of Food Science and Technology, MNS-University of Agriculture",
    "Department of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Chenab",
    "Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Superior University",
    "Gomal University",
    "Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Cholistan University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences",
    "Sudan University of Science & Technology"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Muhammad Awais Saleem"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Aftab Ahmed"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mian Anjum Murtaza"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Nida Firdous"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Rizwan Arshad"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Sadia Kharal"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Mehwish Zerlasht"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Sheraz Ahmed"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ashiq Hussain"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Abdeen Elsiddig Elkhedir"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/80h182tgyt18p.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41598-026-69697-8",
  "fulltext_url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-69697-8",
  "id": "80h182tgyt18p",
  "issns": [
    "2045-2322"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-69697-8",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "Q"
    ],
    [
      "lcc",
      "R"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2736|Fungal Biology and Applications"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7206202511",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-69697-8_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-01",
  "publisher": "Nature Portfolio",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/80h182tgyt18p.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-01T14:21:19Z",
      "native_id": "0f363595d5c342daa30bfcac4b66f752",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-69697-8"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2736|Fungal Biology and Applications",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Revealing the phytochemical diversity and bioactive potential of caterpillar mushroom (Cordyceps militaris L.) using analytical techniques",
  "title_text": "Revealing the phytochemical diversity and bioactive potential of caterpillar mushroom (Cordyceps militaris L.) using analytical techniques",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-03T14:20:46Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/80h182tgyt18p",
  "venue": "Scientific Reports",
  "versions": []
}