To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of submerged culture using Cordyceps militaris mycelium, culture-including mycelia was extracted and lyophilized into postbiotics (hot-water extract; CM-HW). HW was fractionated into crude polysaccharide (CM-CP) by ethanol precipitation, and CM-CP was further dialyzed into CM-DCP by dialysis with running water using 12~14 kDa dialysis tube. When the cytotoxicity of subfractions against cells was assessed, no subfraction had a cytotoxic impact that was substantially different from the control groups. In an inflammatory model using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, CM-DCP significantly decreased IL-6 and MCP-1 production levels compared to the LPS-control group. CM-DCP also inhibited IL-6 and IL-8 secretion in HaCaT keratinocytes stimulated with TNF-α and IFN-γ. In the meanwhile, the neutral sugar content and mannose ratio of anti-inflammatory CM-DCP were higher than the other fractions, and CM-DCP contained β-1,3/1,6-glucan of 216.1 mg/g. High pressure size exclusion chromatography revealed that CM-DCP contained molecules with a molecular weight range of 5.6 to 144.0 kDa. In conclusion, postbiotics of C. militaris mycelium significantly promoted anti-inflammatory activity, suggesting that neutral polysaccharides including Glc and Man contribute to the anti-inflammation in RAW 264.7 or HaCaT cells.

In this study, scones were prepared using Cordyceps powder, described as ‘immortal life’. Cordyceps powder was prepared in 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% ratios, and salinity, color, texture, and antioxidant properties were analyzed. The salinity of Cordyceps scones did not show a difference according to the amount of Cordyceps powder added (p=0.364), and the a-, b-values increased significantly (p<0.001). In the case of texture, there was no significant difference in the amount of Cordyceps added. Flavonoids increased significantly as the amount of Cordyceps powder increased (p<0.001). ABTS-radical scavenging capacity increased significantly as the amount of Cordyceps powder increased (p<0.001). Through this study, the antioxidant properties of Cordyceps scones were confirmed.

Owing to its excellent nutritional value, eggs are among the most important components of the human diet. Gender and environmental factors, such as feed composition, may alter the nutritional profile and quality of eggs. Feed additives have recently been used to enhance the health and productivity of hens, which has resulted in the production of higher-quality eggs. The fungus Cordyceps militaris, a well-established source of traditional medicines, contains potential bioactive metabolites, which prompted us to examine the effects of C. militaris-supplemented diets on the quality of hens’ eggs. The hens of two species (Gallus gallus domesticus and Araucana) were fed with one of three different diets: a control diet and diets supplemented with 2% or 5% of C. militaris. Egg quality was determined by measuring the Haugh Unit, yolk color, and shell thickness. In addition, egg and shell densities together with the ratio of yolk to albumen were calculated. Eggshell thickness and yolk color were both enhanced by the addition of C. militaris, whereas Haugh Unit values were somewhat reduced. Egg size, eggshell weight, and yolk and albumen production were all enhanced by C. militaris supplementation. Notably, in hens fed the 2% C. militaris-supplemented diet, enhancement was more evident in the yolk than in the albumen. The overall quality of the egg yolk was enhanced when 2% C. militaris was added to the hens' diet, which led to increases in both yolk color and quantity. Eggshell thickness and weight were also higher among eggs laid by hens fed the supplemented diets. Although these effects differed depending on the chicken species, we established that, in general, C. militaris contributes to improving egg quality.

본 연구는 동충하초 추출물을 PC12 및 BV2 세포에서 인지능력 개선에 대한 효능을 평가하고자 하였다. 동충하초 추출물을 증류수로 추출하여 PC12 및 BV2 세포로 MTT 분석을 통해 세포 생존율을 확인하고 L-glutamate로 유도한 PC12 세포를 통해 세포 보호 효능과 아세틸콜린 함량 및 아세틸콜린에스테아제 활성을 평가하였다. 또한, LPS로 유도한 BV2 세포를 통해 nitric oxide (NO) 및 prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) 생성량 등의 항염증 효능을 측정하고 western blot 분석을 통해 NK-ĸB, p38, JNK, caspase-3 등의 단백질 발현량을 확인하였다. 동충하초 추출물은 200 ㎍/㎖ 농도를 제외하고 1, 10, 100 (㎍/㎖) 농도에서 세포 독성이 나타나지 않았다. L-glutamate로 유도한 PC12 세포에서 유의성있게 세포 보호 효능과 아세틸콜린 함량의 증가, 아세틸콜린에스테아제 활성 감소가 나타났다. 또한, 동충하초 추출물은 NO 및 PGE2 생성량과 NK-ĸB, p38, JNK, caspase-3 등의 단백질 발현을 억제하였다. 이와 같은 결과는 동충하초 추출물이 인지능력에 대한 예방 및 개선 효능이 있음을 나타낸다. 따라서 동충하초 추출물은 인지능력 개선을 위한 새로운 천연 소재로 활용될 수 있다.

발아대두 동충하초의 유산균 발효를 위하여 발아대두와 동충하초가 함유된 배지에서 생육이 우수한 유산균주를 김치로부터 분리하여 동정한 결과 Lactobacillus plantarum KCB001로 명명하였다. 선정된 유산균을 이용하여 발아대두 동충하초의 고상발효조건을 최적화한 결과, 동충하초와 발아대두의 혼합비는 4:1, 가수량은 40%(v/v), 종배양액의 첨가량은 20%(v/w), 최적 발효온도와 시간은 각각 37oC와 72시간으로 확인되었다. 유산균발효에 의해 총 폴리페놀함 량과 DPPH 소거능이 증가하였으며, 특히 동충하초의 지표 물질인 cordycepin 함량은 발효에 의해 24% 증가함으로써 발효에 의해 발아대두 동충하초의 기능성이 증가함을 확인하였다.

태양농장은 1982년 누에고치 농사로 시작된 대한민국 대표 곤충산업 선도 기업 중 하나로서 경상북도 영덕에 소재하고 있다. 태양농장에 대한 개략적인 소개, 온라인 마케팅 현황, 농장 내 사육공정의 소개 및 부가가치 창출방안을 소개 하고자 한다. 동충하초 재배 과정의 초기 먹이 수급 및 누에사육 과정, 접종, 건조, 동충하초 재배 및 수확과정을 제시한다. 우리 농업의 전망과 성공 노하우, 수요창출기법 양잠 산업의 전망 등을 제시한다.

In this study, the inhibitory effect of Paecilomyces tenuipes extract on PSA and angiogenesis-related factor expression levels were investigated in human prostate cancer cells, LNCaP. P. tenuipes extract significantly inhibited PSA expression in a dose-dependent manner. We also investigated the inhibitory effect of P. tenuipes extract on the expression of angiogenesis-related genes including VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2. P. tenuipes extract significantly down-regulated the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in a dose-dependent manner. On the contrary, P. tenuipes increased the expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Our findings indicate that P. tenuipes exhibits an inhibitory effect on angiogenesis in human prostate cancer cells.

In order to develop fermented silkworm “Dongchunghacho” (Paecilomyces tenuipes) with improved absorption and increased effectiveness, we fermented Dongchunghacho using four kinds of microorganisms, viz., lactic acid bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Natto bacillus, and yeast. A total of 15 samples were fermented using a combination of microbial inoculation culture and conditions to produce fermentation products. The contents of basic components such as sugar, reducing sugar, protein, total polyphenol, and total flavonoid were examined as well as the antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibitory, and thrombolytic activities of the fermented products were analyzed. We observed that reducing sugar and protein contents decreased in most of the fermented products, but the products fermented using yeast exhibited higher sugar content and, thus, higher sweetness. Total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity did not increase in fermented products compared to non-fermented Dongchunghachos, but total flavonoid content and tyrosinase inhibitory and thrombolytic activities increased by fermentation. In particular, total flavonoid content and tyrosinase inhibitory and thrombolytic activities primarily increased in the products fermented using yeast and lactic acid bacteria. However, it was not possible to confirm the increase in these activities in samples fermented by single fermentation using only yeast. Therefore, we propose that it will be possible to develop fermented food from silkworm Dongchunghacho (P. tenuipes) with excellent health benefits through additional study of multiple fermentation conditions using lactic acid bacteria and yeast.