蠶蛹蟲草之特點與安全性

Characterization and toxicity study of Tsarm Yung Chung Tsao

莊曉莉(Hsiao-Li Chuang) ； 李祥麟(Xiang-Ling Lee) ； 陳香蘭(Hsiang-Lan Chen) ； 黃檀溪(Tan-Chi Huang)

《Fungal Science》 18卷3&4期 (2003/12) Pp. 151-161

https://doi.org/10.7099/FS.200312.0151

摘要

蛹蟲草(北冬蟲夏草) 為記載於藥典中之藥材，由於自然界之產量有限，故以科學方法進行量產之研究，將分離自野生蛹蟲草之菌株(Cordyceps militaris LS901) 感染家蠶(Bombxy mori) 之蛹，在人工條件下培育出性狀與野生蛹蟲草相同之「蠶蛹蟲草」。蠶蛹蟲草複合體或其菌株體在照光條件下均會產生大量之類胡蘿蔔素(carotenoids)，冬蟲夏草偵測不到類似的化合物。比較蠶蛹蟲草及其菌絲體之萃取物，證明蠶蛹蟲草之組成份比菌絲體複雜，故研究其功能時，菌絲體不能完全取代蟲草複合體。根據元素分析之結果，人工量產之蠶蛹蟲草沒有重金屬污染之問題，以含1%、5% 或10% (w/w) 蠶蛹蟲草成份之飼料分別餵食小白鼠四週，對實驗動物之體重或活動力均無明顯影響，從一些組織或器官之切片上亦檢查不出異狀，取血液檢測與肝功能、腎功能、血糖和血脂相關之生化指標，也證明無不良反應。

關鍵字

生化指標 ； 毒性研究 ； 蛹蟲草(北冬蟲夏草) ； 類胡蘿蔔素

並列摘要

“Yung Chung Tsao” (Cordyceps militaris) is a precious Chineses herbal medicine. Since the herb is rare in nature, techniques for producing the herb by inoculating the pupae of silkworm with C. militaris LS901 have been developed. The product containing the silkworm pupa and the fungal stroma was named “Tsarm Yung Chung Tsao”. An important character of the product is the presence of a large amount carotenoids after incubated under light. The carotenoids could not be detected in Dong Chung Shiah Tsao (C. sinensis). Comparing the extracts from the fruiting bodies and the fungal culture of C. militaris indicated different contents. Results of element analysis showed no contamination of Pb, Hg, or As in the product. Toxicity study indicated that feeding mice for four weeks with the animal food containing 1%, 5%, or 10% of Tsarm Yung Chung Tsao had no significant influence on body weight or activity. The feeding treatment did not cause any cellular damage detectable by examining the micro-sections of organs and tissues. Based on the assay of serum biochemical properties, the livers, and kidneys sustained no harmful effects, nor did the concentration of glucose, triglycerol, and cholesterol in serum.

並列關鍵字

Biochemical assay ； Carotenoids ； Cordyces militaris ； Toxicity study ； Yung Chung Tsao