Figures (8)  Tables (1)

    • Figure 1. 

      Cordyceps militaris growing in (a) natural, and (b) artificial conditions. (c) Fruiting body, and (d) Perithecia of Cordyceps militaris.

    • Figure 2. 

      Chemical structure of compounds present in C. militaris.

    • Figure 3. 

      Cordycepin inhibits Akt phosphorylation, thereby inactivating Akt, leading to mTOR downregulation.

    • Figure 4. 

      Cordycepin present in C. militaris leads to RNA chain termination.

    • Figure 5. 

      Entomopathogenic activity of C. militaris.

    • Figure 6. 

      Synthesis of green nanoparticles using extracts from natural sources such as microbes, leaves, fruit peels, flowers, etc.

    • Figure 7. 

      Uses of nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture.

    • Figure 8. 

      Preparation of green-nanoparticles using C. militaris.

    • Sl. No. Biomolecule Therapeutical effects Mechanism Ref.
      1 Cordycepin (3′-deoxyadenosine) Anti-fatigue or Ergogenic It activates AKT/mTOR and AMPK signalling pathways, thereby lowering ROS and lactate levels, while also acting as an indirect precursor of NO and ATP. [36]
      Anti-cancer activity It induces apoptosis in cancer cells by suppressing telomerase and CXCR4 (reducing migration in liver cancer). It also down-regulates Bcl-xL and Bcl-2, and activates Fas. [37]
      Immunomodulatory activity It activates the iNOS, COX-2 and NF-κB pathways and stimulates macrophages to release TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6 and PGE2. [38]
      Anti-inflammatory activity It suppresses the expression of iNOS and COX-2, and lowers MDA, IL-1β and TNF-α levels. [39]
      Antiviral It is found to be effective against SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 virus. [40]
      2 Phenolic compounds Antioxidant property Activity of radical scavenging is provided. [41]
      3 Ergothioneine Antioxidant property It protects he cell and radical scavenging. [42]
      4 Selenium (Se) Antioxidant property When grown in selenium enriched medium it increases the antioxidant properties. [43]
      5 Glycoproteins Nutritional property When it is taken as a food supplement, it helps in improving health. [44]
      6 CMIMP (C. militaris Immunomodulatory Protein) from FIP (Fungal Immunomodulatory Protein) family Immunomodulatory property It enhances immune cell function and proliferation and stimulates the production of cytokines. [45]
      7 Ergosterol Blood coagulant property Estrogen leads to shortening of PT and APTT and reduction of fibrinogen levels thus enhancing clotting of blood. [46]
      8 TCTN3 (Tectonic-3 protein) Anti-cancer property Cordyceps militaris downregulates it leading to apoptosis in lung cancer cells. [47]
      9 Polysaccharides
      (e.g., CBP-1, P70–1)      		 Anti-inflammatory Modify oxidative stress indicators and pro-inflammatory cytokines. [48]
      Antioxidant (P70–1 and CBP-1) It scavenges DPPH, hydroxyl and ABTS radicals, chelates Fe2+, increases GPx, SOD and catalase activities, and reduces MDA levels.
      Immunomodulatory It boosts phagocytosis and activates macrophages and lymphocytes to enhance immune responses. [49]
      Anti-fatigue It boosts antioxidant-enzyme activity and ATP levels while reducing oxidative stress. [50]

      Table 1. 

      Medicinal properties of different chemical compounds present in C. militaris.