2024, Vol. 12, Issue 6, Part A

author(s)
Sakshi Gupta and Eugenia P Lal

abstract
Cordyceps militaris, a medicinal fungus renowned for its bioactive compounds such as cordycepin, has garnered increasing attention for its therapeutic potential. The substrate used in its cultivation plays a pivotal role in influencing both the yield and bioactive content of the fungus. This study aims to compare and evaluate Cordyceps militaris cultivated on two widely used substrates: brown rice and white rice. The objectives include assessing the effects of these substrates on growth, morphology, nutritional composition, and bioactive compound production, with a specific focus on cordycepin concentration. In this study, Cordyceps militaris was cultivated under controlled conditions using a completely randomized design to compare growth and chemical profiles. The analysis focused on yield, physical characteristics, and key bioactive components such as polysaccharides, proteins, and cordycepin. The results showed that substrate selection significantly influenced growth rate, yield, and the levels of bioactive compounds. Both brown and white rice substrates demonstrated similar efficacy in supporting Cordyceps militaris cultivation, yielding comparable amounts of bioactive compounds, including cordycepin. The findings of this study highlight the importance of substrate optimization in the commercial and medicinal cultivation of Cordyceps militaris. While both rice types are suitable for maximizing the therapeutic potential of the fungus, white rice, being a more cost-effective option in the Indian subcontinent, offers an economical advantage for large-scale cultivation. Ultimately, the study revealed no significant difference between brown and white rice across key growth and bioactive parameters, suggesting that either substrate can be effectively used for cultivation. Thus, medicinal herbs have played a major role in the development of modern medicine and continue to be widely used in their original form. Negligence, lack of adequate awareness (lack of extension technology) and systematic data and insufficient in-depth research are the major limitations regarding the medicinal fungus C. militaries. The use of natural or herbal medicine over the synthetic ones has seen an upward trend in the recent past years.