# Current Progress Regarding _Cordyceps militaris_, Its Metabolite Function, and Its Production
## 2 Biological Compounds of _C. militaris_
### Cordycepin  
The molecular formula of cordycepin is C\({}_{10}\)H\({}_{13}\)N\({}_{5}\)O\({}_{3}\), with a molecular weight of 251. In 1950, [PERSON] et al. [11] discovered 3-deoxyadenosine in the fermentation broth of _C. militaris_ and named it cordycepin. Cordycepin is an adenosine derivative, but it lacks a hydroxyl group at the 3' position of ribose. It was shown to possess diverse pharmacological properties, in addition to its well-known antioxidant effects [20; 21; 22], including antiviral activity [24], inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation [57], reduction of blood lipids [78], inhibition of platelet aggregation [79], and induction of apoptosis in neuroblastoma and melanoma cells [80]. Cordycepin exhibits significant antioxidant effects by reducing the cellular content of malondialdehyde(MDA) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and increasing \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l l l} \hline
**Bioactive Compound** & **Biological Activity** & **References** \\ \hline \hline \multirow{8}{*}{D-Mannitol} & Antioxidant & [20; 21; 22] \\  & Anti-inflammatory & [23] \\  & Antiviral & [24] \\  & Antitumor & [24] \\  & Hypolipidemic & [25] \\  & Hypoglycemic & [26] \\ \cline{2-3}  & Antioxidant & [27] \\  & Anti-inflammatory & [28] \\  & Antitumor & [29] \\  & Hypolipidemic & [30] \\  & Hepatoprotective & [31] \\ \cline{2-3}  & Antioxidant & [32; 33] \\  & Anti-inflammatory & [34; 35] \\  & Antiaging & [36; 37] \\  & Anti-stress & [38] \\  & Cytoprotective & [39] \\  & Radioprotective & [40] \\ \cline{2-3}  & Antioxidant & [41; 42] \\  & Anti-inflammatory & [43] \\ \cline{2-3}  & Antitumor & [44] \\ \cline{2-3}  & Anti-ischemic & [45] \\  & Antiplatelet & [46; 47] \\  & Anti-hair loss & [48] \\ \hline \multirow{8}{*}{Gamma-aminobutyric acid} & Antioxidant & [49; 50] \\  & Anti-inflammatory & [15] \\  & Antiviral & [51; 52; 53] \\  & Antiaging & [54] \\  & Antitumor & [55; 56; 57] \\ \cline{2-3}  & Antioxidant & [58; 59] \\ \cline{2-3}  & Anti-inflammatory & [60] \\ \cline{2-3}  & Stress regulation & [61] \\ \cline{2-3}  & Sleep-wake regulation & [61] \\ \cline{2-3}  & Antihypertensive & [62] \\ \cline{2-3}  & Antidiabetic & [63] \\ \hline \multirow{8}{*}{Carotenoids} & Antioxidant & [64; 65] \\ \cline{2-3}  & Anti-inflammatory & [66; 67] \\ \cline{1-1}  & Antiviral & [68] \\ \cline{1-1}  & Antitumor & [68] \\ \cline{1-1}  & Antithrombotic & [69] \\ \cline{1-1}  & Antiatheresolclerotic & [70] \\ \hline \multirow{8}{*}{Carotenoids} & Antioxidant & [71; 72] \\ \cline{1-1}  & Anti-inflammatory & [73; 74] \\ \cline{1-1}  & Antiaging & [73; 74] \\ \cline{1-1}  & Antimicrobial & [75; 76] \\ \cline{1-1}  & Antiapoptotic & [77] \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Bioactive components of _Cordycepns militaris_ and their biological activities. the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in cells treated with 6-hydroxyopamine (6-OHDA) [22]. Cordycepin extraction using n-hexane led to a significant increase in activities of antioxidant enzymes. GPx was enhanced by 25.6% (5 uM), 55.3% (10 uM), and 98.4% (20 uM), while SOD activity was, respectively, increased by 20.5%, 50.2%, and 77.4% [22]. Cordycepin has shown promise as a therapeutic agent for treating multiple inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis [81], Parkinson's disease (PD) [82], multiple sclerosis (MS) [83], atherosclerosis [84], pneumonia [85], hepatitis [86], and atopic dermatitis (AD) [87; 88]. For example, topical application of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene on the dorsal skin of mice induces AD-like lesions, which can be alleviated by cordycepin.