Sung-Hee Nam

Fruit Body Formation on Silkworm by Cordyceps militaris

Abstract Injection inoculation protocols for fruit body formation of Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) were investigated to improve the incidence of infection in the silkworm species Bombyx mori (B. mori). Injection, with suspensions of C. militaris hyphal bodies into living silkworm pupae, was used to test for fruit body production. Use of Daeseungjam rather than Baegokjam or Keumokjam varieties of B. mori is thought to be suitable for infection by C. militaris. From mounting, nine-day-old to 11-day-old pupae showed the best incidence of infection with a 100 μL injection volume. Silkworm pupae injected with a hyphal suspension concentration of more than 2 × 105 colony-forming unit (cfu) recorded a greater than 96% incidence of infection. Also, fruit bodies of C. militaris were induced and produced at a light intensity between 500 and 1,000 lx.

Chemical Components of Paecilomyces tenuipes (Peck) Samson.

The caterpillar-shaped Chinese medicinal mushroom (DongChongXiaCao) looks like a worm in the winter and like a grass in the summer. The fruiting body has been regarded as popular folk or effective medicines used to treat human diseases such as asthma, bronchial and lung inflammation, and kidney disease. The fruiting bodies of Paecilomyces tenuipes that formed on the living silkworm (Bombyx mori) host were used in this examination. This study was carried out to investigate the proximate composition, soluble sugar, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, and contents of the bioaetive ingredient including adenosine and D-mannitol in the fruiting-bodies. The moisture content was 57.56%. Soluble sugars found were glycerol, glucose, mannitol and sucrose, and the contents exceeded 24 mgg−1 dry weight. Total free amino acid content was 17.09 mg g−1 dry weight. Arginine, glycine, proline and tyrosine were main amino acids. The content of oleic acid in fatty acids was high. Adenosine was more abundant in fruiting bodies than corpus.

S-(-)-10,11-dihydroxyfarnesoic acid methyl ester inhibits melanin synthesis in murine melanocyte cells.

The development of antimelanogenic agents is important for the prevention of serious aesthetic problems such as melasmas, freckles, age spots, and chloasmas. In the course of screening for melanin synthesis inhibitors, we found that the culture broth from an insect morphopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana CS1029, exhibits potent antimelanogenic activity. We isolated and purified an active metabolite and identified it as S-(−)-10,11-dihydroxyfarnesoic acid methyl ester (dhFAME), an insect juvenile hormone. To address whether dhFAME inhibits melanin synthesis, we first measured the size of the melanin biosynthesis inhibition zone caused by dhFAME. dhFAME also showed inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase in Melan-a cells. Intracellular, dose-dependent tyrosinase inhibition activity was also confirmed by zymography. In addition, we showed that dhFAME strongly inhibits melanin synthesis in Melan-a cells. Furthermore, we compared levels of TYR, TRP-1, TRP-2, MITF, and MC1R mRNA expression by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and showed that treatment of Melan-a cells with 35 μM dhFAME led to an 11-fold decrease in TYR expression, a 6-fold decrease in TRP-2 expression, and a 5-fold decrease in MITF expression. Together, these results indicate that dhFAME is a potent inhibitor of melanin synthesis that can potentially be used for cosmetic biomaterial(s).

Aspects of Popcorn Disease Occurrence on Mulberry Fruits in Korea

Occurrence of popcorn disease on mulberry fruits was surveyed in several locations in Korea from 2005 to 2007. The diseased fruits turned grayish white and changed to hard and black sclerotia during overwintering after falling onto the ground. Apothecia produced from overwintered sclerotia in the fields of mulberry trees were observed in early May. Two types of apothecia were produced from the sclerotia, which were cup-shaped or club-shaped. The fungus with cup-shaped apothecia was identified as Ciboria shiraiana, and that with club-shaped apothecia as Scleromitrula shiraiana. C. shiraiana occurred at the ratio of about 6 vs. 4 in the fields. Occurrence of the disease differed remarkably depending on years, locations, and varieties of mulberry trees investigated. Field survey of the disease incidence showed that Baekhahyeongsang, Dahojosaeng, Hasusang, a native variety and Sawonppong 22 were resistant to the disease, Cheongilppong, Daeseongppong, Guksang 20 and Turkey-D were moderately susceptible, and Cateneo, Moreji and Sanggwa were highly susceptible. Disease incidence in the fields mulched with nonwoven fabrics or plastic films was much lower than that in the non-mulched fields. Disease incidence in the fields mulched with rice straws was similar to that in the non-mulched fields.

Stimulatory Effect of Cordyceps militaris on Testosterone Production in Male Mouse

Cordyceps militaris(CM) has been used as a traditional folk medicine to strengthen the immune system and regain energy for hundreds of years in Far East Asian countries. In the present studies, we determined that the stimulatory effect of Cordyceps militaris on testosterone production in male mouse rats. Results illustrated that changes of the body weight, food and water intake of the rats were not observed in this study but the concentration of testosterone in the serum of the rats was significantly increased by CM(p

The Cultural Characteristics and Antibacterial Activities of Cordyceps militaris and Paecilomyces tenuipes

The cultural characteristics and antibacterial activities of Cordyceps militaris and Paecilomyces tenuipes were compared. The mycelial growth was the highest on MCM (Mushroom Complete Medium) for C. militaris and on YMA (Yeast Malt Agar) for P. tenuipes. But the mycelial density on MMM (Mushroom Minimal Medium) was lower than other on media. The optimum mycelial growth was observed at . C. militaris was low mycelial growth when it was transferred over 5 times generation. The carbon source for the optimum mycelial growth was fructose of monosaccharide, maltose of disaccharide and dextrin of polysaccharide. The calcium nitrate of organonitrogen was found the best mycelial growth on C. militaris, while the sodium nitrate observed to be well for mycelial growth on P. tenuipes. The ammonium tartrate was observed to be the best among the inorganonitrogen used for mycelial growth. Antibacterial activities were found out just C. militaris against Bacillus cereus of Gram (+).

Cultural Characteristics of A Medicinal Mushroom, Phellinus linteus

Abstract For comparison of mycelial colonization of Phellinus linteus on logs, several techniques of inoculation were tested; sterilized short log inoculation, drilling inoculation and log-end sandwich inoculation. The mycelial colonization of P. linteus on logs was good in the treatment of sterilized short log inoculation, but poor in the traditional methods such as drilling inoculation and log-end sandwich inoculation. The initial mycelial growth and the full mycelial colonization of P. linteus in logs were the best in case of 20 cm logs under the condition of 42% moisture content. Also, the initial mycelial growth of P. linteus was accelerated over 12 hours of sterilization. Burying method of logs after 5~6 months of incubation was the best for formation of basidiocarps of P. linteus. The formation of fruiting body of P. linteus was quite good in the cultivation house at 31~35°C and over 96% of relative humidity.

Conditions for Formation of Synnemata from Beauveria bassiana

This study was conducted to investigate optimal conditions for formation of synnemata from Beauveria bassiana. The strain of B. bassiana was isolated from a host of Oncotympana fuscata in Halla mountain of Jeju island. The yield of synnemata was the highest at application of brown rice (90%) and silkworm pupae (10%) media. On the other hand, the other media did not result in formation of synnemata. The highest formation of synnemata was achieved at conditions of moderate air inflow and . The optimal moisture and light intensity for formation of synnemata were 60% and 300 lux, respectively. In addition, inoculation of the liquid spawn resulted in higher yield than that of asexual spore.

Identification and Characterization of Entomopathogenic Fungi Isolated from Bemisia tabaci in Korea

Entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from Bemisia tabaci in an Oriental melon field, and their growth characteristics, factors related to a natural outbreak, and infectivity against Bemisia tabaci, Tetranychus urticae, and Frankliniella intonsa were investigated. The isolates had erect conidiophores bearing whorls of 4-6 phialides with a swollen base where cylindrical conidia of were attached. The isolates were identified as Isaria fumosorosea on the basis of morphological characteristics and an ITS sequence with 99% similarity. I. fumosorosea IFs-08 grew well on Sabouraud dextrose agar+yeast extract medium(3.2 mm/day/); it grew better at than at . The isolates of I. fumosorosea-IFs were highly infective and killed 93.9-96.7% B. tabaci, 84.9-92.0% T. urticae, and 81.5-84.4% F. intonsa in bioassay, whereas three isolates (Isaria tenuipes, Isaria farinosa, and Isaria fumosorosea) from KACC showed a low infectivity of 10-20%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of I. fumosorosea isolated from B. tabaci in Korea.

Optimization for Mycelial Growth and Inhibitory Effect on Nitric Oxide Production of Cordyceps nutans Pat.

Cordyceps (vegetable wasp and plant worm), an entomopathogenic fungi, has been used as a herbal medicine in Asian countries since ancient times. Cordyceps nutans is common but there is little research on this species. This study investigated the optimal culture conditions of C. nutans and the inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cell treated culture broth. The optimal conditions for the mycelial growth were and pH 7.0-8.0. Mycelial growth was highest on mushroom complete medium (MCM), V8 juice agar (V8A), and yeast malt dextrose (YMD) medium. Mycelial growth on mushroom minimal medium (MMM) did not occur, so nutrient source was essential. Dextrose and sucrose as carbon sources, and ammonium citrate as a nitrogen source were satisfactory for mycelial growth. Cytotoxicity of C. nutans culture broth was not found in RAW 264.7 cells. C. nutans culture broth suppressed NO production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, our results provided the optimal conditions for cultivation of C. nutans and showed that C. nutans may have excellent physiological activities.