Revealing the phytochemical diversity and bioactive potential of caterpillar mushroom (Cordyceps militaris L.) using analytical techniques
8 affiliations
- 1Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Sargodha
- 2Department of Nutritional Sciences, Government College University Faisalabad
- 3Department of Food Science and Technology, MNS-University of Agriculture
- 4Department of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Chenab
- 5Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Superior University
- 6Gomal University
- 7Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Cholistan University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences
- 8Sudan University of Science & Technology
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.
Related
- Phytochemical Diversity, Extraction Methods, Analytical Profiling, and Quality Control of Rheum tanguticum (Maxim. ex Regel) Balf.: An Evidence-Stratified Narrative Review
- Elemental profiling of zebrafish (Danio rerio) across developmental stages using ion beam analytical techniques
- PO148 | ANALYTICAL DISCREPANCY IN PLATELET COUNTING REVEALING MYH9-RD: A CASE REPORT
- PO073 | ANALYTICAL VARIABILITY IN FIBRINOGEN TESTING REVEALING FIBRINOGEN LONGMONT: A CASE REPORT
- Persistent pneumothorax during pregnancy revealing histologically confirmed thoracic endometriosis
BibTeX
@article{saleem2026revealing,
title = {{Revealing the phytochemical diversity and bioactive potential of caterpillar mushroom (Cordyceps militaris L.) using analytical techniques}},
author = {Muhammad Awais Saleem and Aftab Ahmed and Mian Anjum Murtaza and Nida Firdous and Rizwan Arshad and Sadia Kharal and Mehwish Zerlasht and Sheraz Ahmed and Ashiq Hussain and Abdeen Elsiddig Elkhedir},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-69697-8},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-69697-8},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Revealing the phytochemical diversity and bioactive potential of caterpillar mushroom (Cordyceps militaris L.) using analytical techniques
AU - Muhammad Awais Saleem
AU - Aftab Ahmed
AU - Mian Anjum Murtaza
AU - Nida Firdous
AU - Rizwan Arshad
AU - Sadia Kharal
AU - Mehwish Zerlasht
AU - Sheraz Ahmed
AU - Ashiq Hussain
AU - Abdeen Elsiddig Elkhedir
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-69697-8
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-69697-8
AB - 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.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -