cordycepin

Cordycepin is a purine nucleoside antimetabolite and antibiotic originally isolated from the fungus *Cordyceps militaris*. Also known as 3’-deoxyadenosine, it is structurally similar to adenosine but lacks a hydroxyl group at the 3' position of its ribose moiety. Cordycepin exhibits a broad spectrum of biological activities, including antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiviral, and metabolic regulatory effects[1][4][5]. Its mechanism of action involves inhibition of RNA synthesis by acting as an adenosine analog and incorporation into RNA chains; this leads to premature termination of transcription[4][5]. Additionally, cordycepin acts as a pro-drug that activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) after being metabolized intracellularly into cordycepin monophosphate[6]. This activation influences cellular energy metabolism and has been linked to beneficial effects in cancer cell apoptosis (via mitochondrial pathways), metabolic disorders such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia, immune modulation (including both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive actions), and potential use in autoimmune diseases or transplant rejection management[1][5][6][8].

Other names

3'-deoxyadenosine9-(3-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)adenine