Medicinal Potential
The Ophiocordyceps fungus contains various known and untapped bioactive metabolites, and is being investigated as a new source of natural drugs with immunomodulatory, antitumor, hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic functions.
Six bioactive naphthoquinone derivatives have been isolated from O. unilateralis, namely
- erythrostominone
- deoxyerythrostominone
- 4-O-methyl erythrostominone|4-O-methyl erythrostominone
- epierythrostominol
- deoxyerythrostominol, and
- 3,5,8-trihydroxy-6-methoxy-2-(5-oxohexa-1,3-dienyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone showed anti-malarial activity in vitro.
There has also been research into the use of red naphthoquinone pigments made by O. unilateralis as a dye for food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
Read more about this topic: Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis
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