Table 1.
Summary of the reported bioactivity and toxicity of the compounds identified from Cordyceps fungi.
| Compound | Producing Fungus | Bioactivities | Toxic Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cordycepin |
C. militaris; C. kyusyuensis |
Anticancer, anti- inflammatory, antioxidant, inhibition of RNA synthesis, insecticidal, antibiotic, antifungal, antivirus | Gastrointestinal toxicity, bone marrow toxicity, decrease in toxicity |
| Pentostatin | C. militaris | Immunosuppressive, inhibitor of adenosine deaminase, antineoplastic | Nausea, diarrhea, renal and neurological toxicities, pulmonary toxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity |
| N6-(2-Hydroxy- ethyl)-adenosine |
C. militaris; C. cicadae |
Renal protection, anti-cancer, insecticidal | Induction of oxidative stress |
| Tenellin | C. bassiana | Iron chelation, inhibitor of membrane ATPase | Toxic towards erythrocytes |
| Militarinones | C. militaris | Antimicrobial | Cytotoxicity |
| Fumosorinone | C. fumosorosea | Inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatase 1B, activation of insulin pathway, anti-diabetic | / |
| Farinosones | C. farinosa | Neuritotrophic activity | Cytotoxicity |
| Oosporein |
C. cicadae; C. bassiana |
Immunosuppressive, antimicrobial, metal detoxification | Cytotoxicity |
| Beauveriolides |
C. militaris; C. bassiana |
Anti-aging, beta-amyloid lowering, anti-atherogenic | Cytotoxicity |
| Beauvericin |
C. cicadae; C. bassiana |
Insecticidal, nematicidal, induction of cell apoptosis, ionophoric property | Cytotoxicity |
| Cordyceamides | O. sinensis | / | Cytotoxicity |
| Cordycedipeptide | O. sinensis | / | Cytotoxicity |
| Cordysinins | O. sinensis | Anti-inflammatory | / |