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Maintaining the Quality and Nutritional Integrity of Chilled Cordyceps sinensis: Comparative Effects and Mechanisms of Modified Atmosphere Packaging and UV-Based Interventions

Summary

Cordyceps sinensis is a highly valued medicinal mushroom that loses its nutritional benefits quickly when stored fresh. This research tested different storage methods to keep it fresh longer, finding that packaging in a special gas mixture (80% nitrogen and 20% carbon dioxide) worked best for preserving its valuable compounds during 12 days of cold storage. The study also found that using UV light treatment could reduce browning, while vacuum sealing best prevented the mushroom from drying out.

Background

Cordyceps sinensis is a valuable medicinal fungus with recognized health benefits including immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative effects. However, fresh C. sinensis has a short shelf life of only seven days under chilled storage due to high metabolic rates, enzymatic browning, and susceptibility to microbial spoilage, limiting its commercial availability and nutritional retention.

Objective

This study evaluated the effectiveness of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) with different gas compositions and UV-based interventions in maintaining the post-harvest quality and nutritional integrity of chilled C. sinensis during 12-day storage at 4°C, assessing sensory traits, color, tissue structure, and bioactive compound preservation.

Results

MAP-N₂CO₂ maintained the highest cordycepin levels (1.77 µg/g), preserved energy charge above 0.7 throughout storage, and demonstrated superior preservation of amino acids and nucleosides. Vacuum packaging most effectively inhibited weight loss (3.49% vs 10.77% control) and preserved sensory quality. UV-based interventions suppressed polyphenol oxidase and tyrosinase activities by 36.4% and 29.7% respectively, reducing browning.

Conclusion

MAP-based treatments, particularly MAP-N₂CO₂, proved superior for chilled storage of C. sinensis, effectively maintaining nutritional integrity, energy metabolism, and quality parameters through synergistic oxygen exclusion and microbial suppression mechanisms. The findings provide practical guidance for improving cold chain preservation techniques for this valuable medicinal fungus.
  • Published in:Foods,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMC12346100, PMID: 40807548, DOI: 10.3390/foods14152611
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