Chemical structure and inhibition on α-glucosidase of the polysaccharides from Cordyceps militaris with different developmental stages.

The natural form of wild edible fungus is the fruiting body. The cultivation of fruiting bodies from sexual reproduction requires strict conditions and long periods. Some literatures have paid attentions on the mycelia prepared with liquid fermentation to alter fruiting bodies. Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) is a kind of precious edible fungus. The polysaccharide is an important active ingredient in C. militaris. The manuscript aimed to evaluate the feasibility of alternative of mycelia to fruit bodies with studies of polysaccharides from C. militaris of different developmental stages. The two polysaccharides were separated. The chemical structure and inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase of polysaccharides were explored. The results indicated that the structure and inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase of polysaccharides with different developmental stages had significant differences. The polysaccharides from fruiting bodies had better inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase. It demonstrated that the mycelia of C. militaris from asexual reproduction with liquid fermentation can't be an effective substitute for fruiting bodies from sexual reproduction, from the perspective of polysaccharides.