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Comparative Metabolite Profiling Between Cordyceps sinensis and Other Cordyceps by Untargeted UHPLC-MS/MS

Summary

This research compares the chemical compounds found in authentic Cordyceps sinensis with four similar but different Cordyceps species to identify which ones are real. Using advanced laboratory techniques, scientists detected thousands of chemical differences between the species. They found that genuine C. sinensis contains higher levels of specific beneficial compounds like nucleosides and certain fatty acids. These findings help consumers and merchants distinguish authentic Cordyceps from counterfeit products and lower-quality substitutes.

Background

Cordyceps sinensis is a nationally protected medicinal fungus valued in traditional Chinese medicine, but its scarcity and numerous counterfeit products in the market create a need for reliable authentication methods. Comparative metabolite analysis between authentic C. sinensis and other Cordyceps species has not been extensively studied using untargeted metabolomics approaches.

Objective

To identify and compare differential metabolites between Cordyceps sinensis and four other Cordyceps species (C. liangshanensis, C. gracilis, C. hawkesii, and C. gunnii) using untargeted UHPLC-MS/MS metabolomics. The study aims to establish biomarkers for distinguishing authentic C. sinensis from counterfeit and substitute products.

Results

A total of 4898 metabolites across 18 superclasses were detected, with 3638 differential metabolites identified. C. sinensis showed significantly higher abundance of nucleosides, lipids, and organic acids compared to other species. Eight key biomarkers including Zedoarol, hyloglycin B, and PA (20:3) were identified as distinguishing metabolites. KEGG analysis revealed amino acid and lipid metabolism as the primary differential metabolic pathways.

Conclusion

Untargeted LC-MS/MS metabolomics successfully distinguished C. sinensis from adulterant Cordyceps species through differential metabolite profiles, particularly in nucleotides, lipids, and organic acids. These findings provide scientific evidence for authentication of C. sinensis and facilitate quality evaluation, with future research needed to validate biomarkers through targeted metabolomics and transcriptomic analysis.
  • Published in:Biology (Basel),
  • Study Type:Comparative Analysis,
  • Source: PMID: 40001886, DOI: 10.3390/biology14020118
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