Extraction and Antioxidant Property <i>In Vitro</i> of Cordycepin in Artificially Cultivated Cordyceps Militaris

Abstract

The cordycepin was extracted from cultured cordyceps militaris through enzymatic method. The main factors: ratio of material to liquid, cellulose addition and extraction liquid were selected to carry out single factor experiment. The L 9 (3 4 ) orthogonal experimental design was applied to optimize extraction technology of cordycepin. The results showed that effects of three factors on cordycepin extraction rate reached extremely significant level. The optimum parameters of cordycepin extraction were material-liquid ratio 1:15, enzyme addition 1.5% and ethanol solution 50% under temperature 70°C for 3h. Under these parameters, cordycepin extraction rate reached to 1.48%. The antioxidant property of cordycepin were determined by hydroxyl radical (OH) and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) radicals scavenging assays. When cordycepin concentration was 0.8 and 1.8 mg/mL respectively, the scavenging capacity of DPPH and OH could reach to 50%. The antioxidant property of cordycepin was close to vitamin C. This study has important practical significance for deep processing of Cordyceps militaris resources.