ABSTRACT
This study looked
at comparison of chemical components and pharmacological activity between wild Ophiocordyceps
sinensis and Paecilomyces hepiali. The chemical components
investigated included amino acids, vitamins, dietary elements, protein, lipid,
ash, carbohydrates, crude fibre, ergosterol and mannitol. Studies on
pharmacological activity included anti-platelet aggregation, inhibitory effect
on IL-8 gene expression, anti-mutagenic activity,
skin whitening effect and impro- vement
activity on human skin texture. The results show that P. hepiali has a
larger total content of seven essential amino acids (leucine, lysine,
methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine) than O. sinensis,
8580 mg/100g and 6180 mg/100g respectively. The total content of dietary
elements analysed (potassium, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese and
selenium) was also higher in P.
hepiali (3135 mg/100g) than that in O. sinensis (2445 mg/100g). The
total content of four vitamins (B1, B2, B6 and E) was almost equal for both
fungi. Paecilomyces hepiali had more content of protein, lipid, ash,
carbohydrate, ergosterol and mannitol than O. sinensis. However, the
contents of lipid and ash were not significantly different between the two
fungi. The hot water extract of P. hepiali has been shown to have a
number of pharmacological effects which include 1) inhibition of aggregation on
human platelet, 2) inhibition of IL-8 gene expression, 3) anti-mutage- nic
activity, 4) inhibition effect on production of melanin, and 5) improvement on
human skin texture. Anti-platelet aggregation effects on human platelet,
inhibition of IL-8 gene expression, anti-mutagenic activity and improvement
effect on human skin texture were greater in P. hepiali treatments than that
in wild O. sinensis.