| Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a traditional and valuable medicine in China. O. sinensis is a composite of the larva and the fungus, and the fungus parasitize on the larva (Family:Hepialidae). How to evaluate the quality of O. sinensis from different origins remains disputed. In the present study, we identified the O. sinensis samples from Yushu county (Qinghai), Kangding county (Sichuan), Damxung county (Xizang) and Daquin county (Yunnan) by morphological and molecular markers. The contents of active components including adenosine, inosine, ergosterol and cordycepic acid were determined by high performance liquid chromatography, and the contents of polysaccharide were determined by phenol sulfuric acid method. We also detected the scavenging ability of methanol extract on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and the inhibitive ability of methanol extract on breast cancer MT-1 in mice.The results showed that morphological characteristics of samples were the same as O. sinensis. The alignment of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of stromata, together with cytochrome c oxidase (COI) and cytochrome b (Cytb) sequences of insect showed that all samples were confirmed to be O. sinensis. No significant difference was found among the length of stromata of O. sinensis from four origins. O. sinensis from Yushu county and Damxung county were longer and heavier than those from Kangding county and Daquin county.The contents of cordycepic acid and polysaccharide were higher than those of ergosterol, inosine and adenosine in O. sinensis from four origins. The contents of five active components in O. sinensis from Daquin county and Yushu county were higher than those from Damxung county and Kangding county.The half maximal inhibiting concentrations of scavenging ability of butylated hydroxytoluene and O. sinensis from Yushu county, Kangding county, Damxung county and Daquin county on DPPH were 0.08±0.01,3.21±0.15,3.52±0.05, 2.22±0.09 and 1.79±0.12 mg/mL. The scavenging ability on DPPH radical in O. sinensis from Daquin county and Damxung county was stronger than that from Yushu county and Kangding county. The MT-1 celluar death rates of fluorouracil were up to 80% at the concentration of 400 μg/mL, and those of O. sinensis from four origins were lower than 20%. No significant difference was found among death rates of O. sinensis from four origins on breast cancer MT-1 cells.The morphological characteristics, active components and biological potency of O. sinensis from four origins were determined in this study. The results provided references for the scientific and comprehensive quality evaluation of O. sinensis products, and contributed to sustainable utilization of this precious resources. |
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