Abstract: A method of isolating at least one sphingolipid portion selected from a sphingoid base portion, a ceramide portion, a glycosphingolipid portion or a phosphosphingolipid portion from Cordyceps, in particular from wild-type Cordyceps, allows for obtaining sphingolipid portions having an increased amount of one of sphingoid bases, ceramides, glycosphingolipids or phosphosphingolipids. The sphingolipid portions isolated contained significant amounts of sphingolipids not reported so far, and possess exceptional immunosuppressive activities. A method of treating a subject suffering from an inflammatory disease like an autoimmune disease or an allergic disease includes administering sphingolipids isolated from Cordyceps, in particular from wild-type Cordyceps. A method of treating a subject suffering from an inflammatory disease includes administering certain sphingolipids to the subject.

Abstract: A method of identifying and preferably quantifying at least one sphingolipid, in particular the sphingolipid portion in wild-type Cordyceps or Cordyceps derivates includes preparing a test sample solution from a Cordyceps sample, subjecting the test sample solution to liquid chromatrography with a mobile phase including at least a first and second eluting solvent; and performing a mass spectrometry after the step of subjecting. The quality and safety of Cordyceps products can be determined and wild-type Cordyceps and Cordyceps derivates may be differentiated via the ratio and/or presence of certain sphingolipids especially suitable as markers.

Abstract: A method of isolating at least one sphingolipid portion selected from a sphingoid base portion, a ceramide portion, a glycosphingolipid portion or a phosphosphingolipid portion from Cordyceps, in particular from wild-type Cordyceps, allows for obtaining sphingolipid portions having an increased amount of one of sphingoid bases, ceramides, glycosphingolipids or phosphosphingolipids. The sphingolipid portions isolated contained significant amounts of sphingolipids not reported so far, and possess exceptional immunosuppressive activities. A method of treating a subject suffering from an inflammatory disease like an autoimmune disease or an allergic disease includes administering sphingolipids isolated from Cordyceps, in particular from wild-type Cordyceps. A method of treating a subject suffering from an inflammatory disease includes administering certain sphingolipids to the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying and preferably quantifying at least one sphingolipid, in particular the sphingolipid portion in wild-type Cordyceps or Cordyceps derivates. A further aspect relates to a method of identifying wild-type Cordyceps in a Cordyceps sample as well as for identifying Cordyceps derivates in a Cordyceps sample. The methods of the present invention, thus, allow for determining the quality and safety of Cordyceps products and for advantageously differentiating between wild-type Cordyceps and Cordyceps derivates via the ratio and/or presence of certain sphingolipids especially suitable as markers.