Response of Antioxidant System of Cordyceps militaris to Metal Ions and Oxidizing Agents
Article
Figures
Metrics
Preview PDF
Reference
Related
Cited by
Materials
Abstract:
In this study, the effects of metal ions such as Mn2+, Cu2+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Ba2+, Al3+ and oxides such as potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide on the accumulation of carotenoids and the enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in Cordyceps militaris were investigated. The results showed that the accumulation of carotenoids in C. militaris was inhibited by Mn2+, Cu2+, and Mg2+ at a high concentration, but promoted by Na+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Al3+, and Mg2+ at a low concentration. The accumulation of carotenoids in C. militaris was inhibited by potassium permanganate at a low concentration and hydrogen peroxide at a medium-high concentration, but promoted by potassium permanganate at 3% and 4% and hydrogen peroxide at 1%. Among which, Mg2+ at 2% promoted the greatest carotenoid accumulation in C. militaris. Under this stress condition, the carotenoid production reached 279.21 μg/g (an increase by 184.9% compared with the control group). The activity of SOD was increased by Mn2+ Ba2+ and Al3+ at low concentrations, but decreased by them at high concentrations, with the highest SOD activity occurring at the concentration of 3%. In contrast, the activity of SOD was inhibited by Cu2+ at low concentrations but increased at high concentrations. The effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on SOD were complicated. With an increase in their concentrations, the activity of SOD was increased initially, then decreased and finally increased, with the peak SOD activity occurring at the concentration of 1%. In general, Na+ had little effect on SOD. The activity of SOD was promoted significantly by potassium permanganate, but inhibited by hydrogen peroxide significantly. Al3+ at 3% was the most effective to promote carotenoid accumulation in C. militaris. Under this stress condition, the activity of SOD reached 167.62 U/g (increased by 4.82 times compared with the control group). The research results showed that the stress factors including metal ions and oxides could induce the stress responses of the antioxidant system in C. militaris and increase the accumulation of antioxidants to a certain extent. These results have laid an experimental foundation for using C. militaris mycelium to produce antioxidants via fermentation.
