Quantification of Flavonoids and Nucleoside by UPLC-MS in Indian Cordyceps sinensis and its In- vitro Cultures

Background: Cordyceps sinensis, a comestible mushroom growing in Himalayan regions, is extensively familar in traditional system of medicine. The paper presents the results of quantification of some of the flavonoids and nucleosides (kaempferol, isorhamnetin and cordycepin) in the Indian variety of Cordyceps sinensis. Since, the plant is known for its high therapeutic potential and not easily available, hence it was also tissue cultured in the laboratory as an alternative source of medicine. Methods: Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) along with Q-TOF–MS detector was used for the characterization and quantification of active components in the aqueous extracts of both the samples of Cordyceps sinensis (natural as well as in vitro cultured). Results: Results indicate that both the extracts have almost similar concentration of the kaempferol, isorhamnetin and cordycepin which supports use of in vitro biomass as an alternative source of medicine.