Stable Carbon Isotope Composition of the Lipids in Natural Ophiocordyceps sinensis from Major Habitats in China and Its Substitutes

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is one rare medicinal fungus produced in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Its quality and price varies hugely with different habitat, and its numerous substitutes have sprung up in functional food markets. This paper aims to discriminate the geographic origin of wild O. sinensis and its substitutes via element analyzer–isotope ratio mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The δ(13)C values of major fatty acids in the lipids of O. sinensis are characterized unanimously by the variation relation C(18:0) < C(18:2) ≈ C(16:0) < C(18:1), while their fluctuation intervals are notably different between those of neutral and polar lipids. The comparative analysis of the δ(13)C ratios of major fatty acids in lipids of O. sinensis suggests that the δ(13)C patterns may be sensitive potential indicators to discriminate its geographical origin. The δ(13)C values of individual major fatty acids of lipids from the cultivated stromata of Cordyceps militaris (SCM), the fermented mycelia of Hirsurella sinensis (FM(H)) and Paecilomyces epiali (FM(P)) range from −31.2‰ to −29.7‰, −16.9‰ to −14.3‰, and −26.5‰ to −23.9‰, respectively. Their δ(13)C pattern of individual major fatty acids may be used as a potential indicator to discriminate the products of natural O. sinensis and its substitutes.