The authors of this paper conducted a comparative metabolomic analysis of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (OS), providing the metabolic profiles of the stroma (OSBSz) and sclerotia (OSBSh) of OS by widely targeted metabolomics and untargeted metabolomics. The results showed that 778 and 1449 metabolites were identified by the widely targeted metabolomics and untargeted metabolomics approaches, respectively. The metabolites in OSBSz and OSBSh are significantly differentiated; 71 and 96 differentially expressed metabolites were identified by the widely targeted metabolomics and untargeted metabolomics approaches, respectively. This suggests that these 71 metabolites (riboflavine, tripdiolide, bromocriptine, lumichrome, tetrahymanol, citrostadienol, etc.) and 96 metabolites (sancycline, vignatic acid B, pirbuterol, rubrophen, epalrestat, etc.) are potential biomarkers. 4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde, arginine, and lumichrome were common differentially expressed metabolites. Using the widely targeted metabolomics approach, the key pathways identified that are involved in creating the differentiation between OSBSz and OSBSh may be nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, thiamine metabolism, riboflavin metabolism, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, and arginine biosynthesis. The differentially expressed metabolites identified using the untargeted metabolomics approach were mainly involved in arginine biosynthesis, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, and cysteine and methionine metabolism. The purpose of this research was to provide support for the assessment of the differences between the stroma and sclerotia, to furnish a material basis for the evaluation of the physical effects of OS, and to provide a reference for the selection of detection methods for the metabolomics of OS.

A new species, Ophiocordyceps ovatospora, occurring on termites was collected from Yunnan Province, China, and is described based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic data. In a phylogenetic analysis of a combined dataset of multigene loci comprising the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), the small and large subunit of the ribosomal DNA (nrSSU and nrLSU), partial sequences of elongation factor 1-alpha (tef-1a) and the largest and second largest subunit of the RNA polymerase (rpb1, rpb2), O. ovatospora was clustered together with O. khokpasiensis to form a clade separate from other species of Ophiocordyceps. Morphologically, O. ovatospora is characterized by producing pseudo-immersed perithecia, filiform asci and ascospores, monophialidic phialides, and oval conidia. Ophiocordyceps ovatospora has smaller perithecia than those of O. khokpasiensis but its asci are larger.

The aim of this study was to reconstruct the evolutionary framework of the genus Umbelopsis by using modern taxonomic strategies and evaluating the quality of oil and prospective uses of three distinct species. Three species of Umbelopsis were identified based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic evidence obtained from three genes (ITS, LSU, and ACT). A new species of Umbelopsis was described and illustrated, and subsequently named Umbelopsis ophiocordycipiticola. The characteristics of U. ophiocordycipiticola exhibited sporangia with a diameter ranging from 8 to 17 µm. and sporangiospores that were oval to ellipsoidal in shape, irregularly angular, with dimensions of approximately 1.9–2.9 × 1.7–3.0 µm. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to examine the composition of fatty acids. Notably, U. ophiocordycipiticola showed a significantly higher oil content of 50.89% in dry cell weight (DCW) compared to U. vinacea and U. ramanniana. The mean proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in U. ophiocordycipiticola was 32.38%, and the maximum levels of γ-linolenic acid (GLA), arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in U. ophiocordycipiticola were found to be 14.51%, 0.24%, 0.54%, and 0.53%, respectively. The biodiesel quality from all three species complied with applicable standards set by the American Association for Testing and Materials (ASTM 6751) and the Brazilian National Petroleum Agency (ANP 255). The establishment of a novel species, U. ophiocordycipiticola, was strongly supported by morphological and molecular evidence. U. ophiocordycipiticola exhibited a high-value PUFAs content. Additionally, three Umbelopsis species demonstrated good quality for biodiesel production.

Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is a major contributor to cardiovascular dysfunction and remains a key target for therapeutic intervention. Cordyceps sinensis , also known by its updated taxonomic name Ophiocordyceps sinensis , is traditionally recognized in the form of a fungus–insect complex and has long been regarded as a functional food with therapeutic benefits for renal and pulmonary health. However, its potential effects on MF remain poorly understood. Owing to the scarcity and high cost of wild O. sinensis , fermented cordyceps powder (FCP), a standardized mycelial fermentation product derived from symbiotic microorganism associated with O. sinensis , has gained attention as a promising and accessible alternative in pharmacological research. Given the pharmacological similarity between O. sinensis and FCP, we first applied network pharmacology to identify potential therapeutic targets of O. sinensis representative bioactive compounds. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network construction and functional enrichment analysis revealed associations with collagen regulation and amino acid metabolism. These predictions were validated in vivo through FCP administration and metabolomic analysis. Using an isoproterenol (ISO)‐induced MF rat model, we demonstrated that FCP significantly attenuated MF, as evidenced by markedly reduced collagen deposition (Masson’s trichrome staining), hydroxyproline levels, and collagen I expression. UPLC‐MS metabolomics revealed that FCP modulated amino acid metabolic pathways, particularly glycine, serine, and proline metabolism. Mechanistically, FCP exerted its effects by downregulating key components of the TGF‐β1/Smad pathway, including TGF‐β1, Smad4, and p‐Smad2/3, while increasing the inhibitory Smad7 expression. This dual modulation of signaling and metabolism suggests that FCP has antifibrotic potential and may serve as a functional food‐derived intervention against cardiovascular fibrosis.