Cordycepin

Cordycepin, scientifically known as 3'-deoxyadenosine, is a naturally occurring nucleoside analogue first isolated by Cunningham in 1951. Initially identified as an antibacterial compound from Cordyceps militaris—a species of ascomycete fungus that parasitizes soil-dwelling caterpillars—it has since emerged as a research hotspot due to its diverse biological activities.
Beyond its primary name, cordycepin is recognized by several synonyms in scientific and industrial contexts, including 9-cordyceposido adenosine, adenine coryceposide, cordycepine, NSC 401022, and NSC 63984, with a CAS registration number of 73-03-0. Its molecular structure closely resembles that of adenosine, the key difference being the absence of a 3' hydroxyl group—a feature that underpins its unique biological mechanisms.
Notably, Cordyceps militaris stands out as the only strain among over 500 Cordyceps species capable of producing cordycepin in substantial quantities. Modern advancements in cultivation techniques have enabled scalable production of cordycepin, moving beyond reliance on wild fungal sources and supporting its application across multiple industries. Since the 1990s, it has entered clinical trial phases (starting with Phase I trials in the United States in 1997) and continues to be explored for its therapeutic potential.

Structurally Distinct Nucleoside Analogue: Its core structure lacks a 3' hydroxyl group, differentiating it from adenosine and allowing it to interfere with RNA synthesis and cellular signal transduction pathways like mTOR.
High Purity for Reliable Results: Available with purity levels of ≥95% (and up to ≥98% in premium grades) as verified by HPLC, ensuring consistency for research and industrial applications.
Controllable Bioactivity: Exhibits dose-dependent effects—for example, 5 mg/kg enhances learning performance in ischemic mice, while 10 mg/kg achieves this in both healthy and ischemic models, with no observed adverse effects in in vivo studies.
Good Solubility Profile: Soluble in common laboratory solvents including ethanol, methanol, DMSO, and DMF, facilitating easy preparation of solutions for cell culture and in vitro assays.
Stable Under Proper Storage: Maintains integrity with long-term storage at -20°C, preserving its biological activity for extended research timelines.

Pharmaceutical Research & Development: Serves as a lead compound for anti-cancer drugs (targeting RNA and protein synthesis in cancer cells) and anti-infectives (inhibiting Mycobacterium tuberculosis, influenza A, dengue, HCV, HIV-1, and SARS-CoV-2). It also shows potential for treating rheumatoid arthritis by suppressing MMP-1/3 expression and chemokine production.
Cosmetics Industry: Used in anti-aging and skin-care formulations for its anti-photoaging, anti-pigmentation, and anti-allergic inflammation properties, addressing UV-induced skin damage and hyperpigmentation.
Functional Food Sector: Added to beverages, wines, teas, and candies as a natural active ingredient, leveraging its lipid-lowering, anti-oxidant, and immunomodulatory effects for dietary health support.
Academic & Clinical Research: Employed in cell culture studies (e.g., MA-10 cells, RASF) to investigate apoptosis, inflammation, and viral replication, and in animal models to explore neuroprotective and anti-tumor mechanisms.
Animal Husbandry: Acts as a high-efficiency plant growth inhibitor—0.04 mg/ml cordycepin inhibits radish germination 3.8–5.9 times more effectively than benzoic acid.

In the same research field as cordycepin, common related products include nucleoside analogues such as adenosine monophosphate (AMP), deoxyadenosine, and phosphoramidate derivatives of cordycepin (e.g., fluorinated cordycepin protides). Additionally, compounds targeting similar pathways—like mTOR inhibitors, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activators, and anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., interleukin-10 modulators)—are widely sought after for complementary research. Antiviral nucleosides such as remdesivir and sofosbuvir, which share protide technology applications with cordycepin derivatives, are also relevant for antiviral drug development. If you are interested in related products, you can directly contact us or use our product customization service.