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
Famous quotes containing the words medicinal and/or potential:
“Our Indian said that he was a doctor, and could tell me some medicinal use for every plant I could show him ... proving himself as good as his word. According to his account, he had acquired such knowledge in his youth from a wise old Indian with whom he associated, and he lamented that the present generation of Indians “had lost a great deal.””
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“It can be fairly argued that the highest priority for mankind is to save itself from extinction. However, it can also be argued that a society that neglects its children and robs them of their human potential can extinguish itself without an external enemy.”
—Selma Fraiberg (20th century)