Effects of different carbon and nitrogen sources on naphthoquinone production of Cordyceps unilateralis BCC 1869.

The production of six naphthoquinone derivatives, erythrostominone, deoxyerythrostominone, 4-O-methyl erythrostominone, epierythrostominol, deoxyerythrostominol, and 3,5,8-trihydroxy-6-methoxy-2-(5-oxohexa- 1,3-dienyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone, was examined during the growth of Cordyceps unilateralis BCC 1869 on different carbon and nitrogen sources. Erythrostominone production by the fungus accounted for more than 50% of total naphthoquinones, but production of each of the other five derivatives accounted for less than 20% of total naphthoquinones. The highest volumetric production rate of erythrostominone and overall naphthoquinone production rate were obtained on mannose as a sole carbon source and ammonium sulfate as a sole nitrogen source (4922.4 +/- 118.8 mg/[L.d] and 5.03 g/[L.d], respectively). The highest growth rate was obtained on arabinose (0.043 h-1), whereas the maximum overall naphthoquinone concentration was obtained on lactose (2 g/L) at 237 h. These naphthoquinones were produced with no pH control and were first detected at a pH of about 3.0 to 4.0. These results suggest that carbon and nitrogen influenced directly the production of naphthoquinones.