Description
The Cordyceps genus is well known for its medicinal properties. A number of bioactive
constituents from Cordyceps species have been reported such as antibacterial, antifungal,
immunopotentiating or antitumor agents [1]. The anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties
of Cordyceps militaris (L.) Link have been reported as also the antioxidant activity of its cultured
mycelium [2]. In this work, the chemical characterization of C. militaris was performed,
includingbioactive compounds (free sugars, unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, organic acidsand
phenolic compounds). The antioxidant potential of its methanolic extract was evaluated (reducing
power, scavenging activity and lipid peroxidationinhibition) as also the antimicrobial activity (tested
towards Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and eight microfungi) and antiproliferative
properties (tested in different human tumor cell lines). Mannitol and trehalose were the main free
sugars found in this species (2.01 and 24.71 g/100 g dw, respectively). The fatty acid quantified in
higher amounts was linoleic acid (68.00% of total fatty acids). a-Tocopherol was the only isoform
of vitam in E detected (55.86 j.lg/1 00 g dw). The organic acids found in this mushroom were oxalic
(0.33 g/1 00 g dw), citric (7.97 g/1 00 g dw) and fumaric (0 .1 3 g/100 g dw) acids. p-Hydroxybenzoic
acid was the only phenolic acid quantified in C. militaris (0.02 mg/1 00 g dw), but cinnamic acid
was also found (0. 11 mg/1 00 g dw). The lowest EC50 values for the antioxidant potential were
presented in lipid peroxidation inhibition assays, namely in 13-carotene/l inoleate and TBARS
assays (1.05 mg/ml and 0. 77 mg/ml, respectively). The methanolic extract also revealed strong
antibacterial and antifungal activities, and it was able to inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 (breast},
NCI-H460 (non-smalllung),HCT-15 (colon) and Hela (cervical) human carcinoma cell lines.
; Stojković, Dejan 
